19.8K results

One Piece the Movie (the following is a nonprofit fan based parody any characters from one piece is owned by Eiichiro Oda, Toei Animation Co., Ltd., any characters from super Mario are owned by Nintendo, any characters from troll hunters, are owned by DreamWorks and universal Disclaimer Some of the characters found in this story and / or universe do not belong to me, but are intellectual property of their respective owners. Any original characters in this story are my intellectual property. Story nonprofit created fan and fan without compromising the original work.) Chapter 19: Rebels under attack! The goblins fight back (Darklands Castle) Inside one of the ruin castles of the dark lands, a giant figure began pacing back-and-forth what looked to be a council room. His heavy steps caused the room around him to shake and small bits of debris to fall out from the walls and ceiling. The figure was a large monster. He wore a large loincloth adorned with several skulls. It was a gigantic creature, having dark gray skin, short brown beards, yellow eyes with black sclera, and sharp teeth with fangs sticking out. He was the strongest and last ogre to ever exist: The Skull crusher Bekuzar Dulizrog. He earned his name throughout the many years he spent on the battlefield. He was a high-ranking commander in the troll Kingdom since he was the last of the ogres after they were wiped out long ago. He was an extremely powerful ogre, capable of defeating multiple enemies at once with just his brute, strength and psychotic nature alone. The troll kingdom welcomed him into their ranks with open arms and he has been loyal to Bular’s cause ever since. Since he joined the troll Empire, he quickly climbed the ranks due to his vicious nature and his powerful fighting skills along with his knowledge of magic. The first Bekuzar's weapon of choice was a massive club, and he is also capable of creating massive fireballs with a chant. By reciting the words "Carbunculus... Crescunt... Iacta!", Bekuzar could cast and throw either a large ball of fire or multiple fireballs at once. Other kingdoms knew him well as being a beast on the battlefield, always willing to jump at first into any territory without a second thought and coming out Victorious. Bekuzar was a powerful monster able to defeat every warrior he had come across; all of them being some of the most powerful in their kingdom. Even though he was a hierarchy member among the kingdom he wasn't exactly liked by every single one of their residents. Bekuzar was also known to be able to regenerate any minor wounds inflicted by swords and other sharp weapons as long as it wasn’t too severe. Though due to his Vicious and brutal nature it made perfect sense why. From rumors amongst Thrillers entire Army was that, Bekuzar was known to be an arrogant and especially vicious Warrior and Commander, Who was specially known for caring nothing for the goblins or any of his subordinates That worked Underneath Him. However, Ogre shared the Disgusting nature of the goblins, as he had confined an They known for viciously torturing and tormenting his victims for information. The Goblins would usually be his assistants when it came to that job and did they love that role of violence they shared with the mighty warrior. At some point in time, During one of their expositions through enemy territories in kingdoms, Ogre was granted an army of goblins by Bular. Though due to his violent and arrogant nature most of the Kingdom didn't really see him as a leader figure as he was just a fighter who likes to swing his sword around because he can. So unfortunately for Bekuzar, She had to be put under the watchful eye of one of Bular's higher ranking generals. Though he wasn’t too angry at the, for one he was still able to fight however he pleased as long as he was given confirmation to and two, He always thought that the goblins never made good soldiers and that they would mostly just get in his way. Unfortunately, this time he was angry for another totally different reason. He was anxiously waiting in the meeting room for his commanding officer to appear with any news from the kingdom. The dark land had been under their control for the last two years, though there wasn’t much to really control in that department. It wasn’t the original dark lands where they all had come from, or at least were most of Bular’s army came from, but it was a former kingdom that had been captured and taken over by the troll army. It had been wiped of all its inhabitants long ago and remained a barren wasteland ever since. The only remaining forms that resigned in the dark lands were the goblin soldiers and other creatures that were left under Bekuzar’s watch. And it was safe to say Bekuzar was tired of having nothing to do but sit around and being annoyed by the goblins. The only thing he really had going for him that was the time where he had captured an army of elf soldiers. Granted they weren’t really able to put up much of a fight against him, but he was at least something exciting that happened. Well that and apparently the rumor going around between the goblins that there’s a new rebellion group around that’s been trouble with the goblins. Though it was a shame that the group didn’t sound strong enough to really give him a challenge. It would still be exciting for him to hunt them down torture and kill them all one by one just for his own personal enjoyment That would be if he was able to find their base operations, unfortunately for him it might as well have been invisible because he couldn’t find it. They basically have been doing what the trolls have been doing and only attacking from the shadows never going into a full confrontation, but enough to show that they were there and we’re keeping an eye on them which annoyed him. And to make things worse he had caught a whiff of a weird scent, No it was not the smell of silk coming from the Goblins orThe black tarness of the darklands. But another weird kind of scent he hadn’t smelt in a long time and it felt familiar to him, but he Couldn't figure out what it was and this infuriated him. Thankfully, however, that all changed soon once his commander came back with new orders from headquarters. Been waiting patiently in that room taking quick Pete at the window to see if he could find him anywhere. “ What the hell is taking him so long”?, Bekuzar asked aloud as he continued to pace back-and-forth,”With his speed he should’ve been back by now”. It had been three days since his commander had left to drop off the elven prisoners to the Work camps. Bekuzar had been left with nothing to do but to sit in charge of the castle and to await new orders. He hated the five I’m just sitting around and doing nothing while there were enemies out there for him to hunt down and kill. Irritated by the way, he quickly walked over to the window and opened it wide before looking down at one of the goblin standing watches. Eager for any news, Bekuzar asked him,” Did he show up yet”? The goblin, startled by his commander's question, quickly shook his head no. Bekuzar growled and groaned at that response,”Goddamnit I can’t just sit here waiting for him to show up! I gotta go out and do something anything I’m not built for this sitting around and giving orders shit, that’s what he was here for”!, he shouted angrily as he began walking away from the window,” and what’s worse is while I’m sitting here on my ass twiddling my thumbs the enemy could be making plans to try and ambush us”!, He shouted angrily as he grabbed a dagger and stabbed it right in the center of of the dark lands. Two of the goblin soldiers, who had been stationed in the room with him. It was just to watch and make sure that the meeting went well and to greet their superior commander. Unfortunately for them, they had to also deal with his constant temper and anger issues towards not only the situation, but just in general. And it definitely wouldn’t make things easier for them when he took his anger and frustrations out on them as well. This made him seem like almost a terrifying destructive ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. The goblin stood in front of the door, shaking in fear as they watched the angry ogre punch a hole into the concrete wall of the medium growl in frustration. After he had done that, he quickly turned away from the wall and picked up his club off of the table before beginning to walk to the door,” to hell with this waiting around shit I don’t wanna go find something to kill”!, Bekuzar angrily announced, the terrified goblins, not daring to stop him. And just as he said that, a voice suddenly called out to him,” Oh Bekuzar, always quick to rush into a bloodthirsty battle. You honestly need to find a new hobby, old friend”. The ogre eyes went wife as he turned to see his commander, standing before him in the center of the room, looking sinister at him,” well I guess I’m not really want to talk, am I”? The commander had a very tall and slender humanoid figure . At first sight, he can be mistaken for someone wearing a full set of red and silver armor , when this is his actual body. His knees and elbows are covered with a fierce and sinister mask-like designed pads. He was one of the former members of the 10 Commandments: The Apostle of Chaos Galand The Truth. Galand is or was an elite warrior of the Demon Clan, who was serving directly under the Demon King as the Truth of the Ten Commandments until his along with the other 10 Commandments defeat at the hands of Merlin. As a result of them being defeated, Merlin had sealed most of them away except for Galand, of course, who amends to slip away after being beaten by Merlin power. Soon after ,with nothing better to do other than hiding away to prevent Merlin from sealing him away, he was quickly recruited into Bulars empire by Bular himself. Having taken a liking to Galands destructive and powerful nature, Bular thought he was a perfect addition to the kingdom army. And oh boy was he right about that, because Galand was a force of nature. Galand had a very destructive, sadistic and battle-crazed attitude just like Bekuzar. He shows to be somewhat reckless and daring, given that he was eager to fight new enemies despite having all his magical power drained by Merlin. But make no mistake. He was still an extremely and incredibly powerful individual who cut down anyone who stood in his way. In some of the tales told amongst the other kingdoms is that since he's the Commandment of Truth any who lie in his presence or go against their word will almost immediately be turned to stone. And his vicious reputation will be talked about throughout most kingdoms who were fully aware of his existence. Some had even made many folklore tales about him and his reputation. One thing that was common amongst the stories was how easy it was to mistake Galand as a demon wearing a suit of armor, when in actuality this is his actual body. But make no mistake. That suit of demon armor has more than enough skills to help balance him out. As a former member of the Ten Commandments, Galand is an extremely powerful demon despite being past his prime. Like all members of the Demon Clan, he possesses their unique power of darkness which he can use for a variety of purposes, such as forming wings for flight. Galand was sealed away by Merlin after losing the ancient war against the other four races As a member of the Ten Commandments, Galand is an extremely powerful demon despite being past his prime.[4] Like all members of the Demon Clan, he possesses their unique power of darkness which he can use for a variety of purposes, such as forming wings for flight.[5] back in the day his aura, combined with the aura of the other Ten Commandments was so terrifying that it made the normally any opponent of his sweat in fear by their presence along with unnerving. Galand possesses immense physical strength, and while using special moves of his like Critical Over, Galand's physical strength gains a massive increase. With one swing, he is able to destroy a vast portion of any landscape while sending shockwaves strong enough to cleave nearby mountains.[9] He is extremely fast, traveling several miles in an instant. He also possesses immense levels of endurance and durability, Which age him in taking the front lines of most of the troll armies expeditions and help him as somewhat of a human shield on the front lines. It is also worth noting that, despite his similar behavior like that of Bekuzar, being that of a violent brute, for the most part, Galand possesses excellent combat instincts. It's these feats alone that is why he is such a high-ranking member in the troll Empire and why he is highly respected amongst his comrades. Though he does not share the same sadistic and torturous nature seen in his Goblin comrades. make no mistake that he's still a violent sociopath. A psychopath that is more than willing to inflict any and all sorts of pain onto any opponent he sees without any consideration about what the outcome might be. Bekuzar dropped his Club,” Commander Galand sir”, he said acknowledging his Commander,”You finally returned from your journey”. Galand simply turned away from his subordinate as he began to walk towards the already opened window In order to take in the beautiful Wasteland site That stood before him as he stroked his chin as if having a chin beard,”That I have apologies for the late arrival the journey was a little more gruesome than I thought. Oh well, at the end of the day they were delivered to the prison camp on schedule, or at least what was left of them anyway. Their information about Their Kingdom's defenses and plans for this world will prove quite useful once we “persuaded” them to Prevail such private information of course”. “And what a headquarters? Have we gotten any new orders from them? Have they finally given us a new objection? ", Bekuzar quickly asked a bay of questions trying to get as much information as he could out of his superior so that they could prepare for what’s next to come. Though he was hit with a lot of questions, Galand seem to be unfazed by them only continuing to look out the window,”Now that you so gladly mentioned and I do have great news in fact”,He said with a high and mighty tone as he dramatically turned around to face Bekuzar, As if to unveil something crazy,”(Ahem) Our King Bular the butcher has successfully acquired the last piece of killer head Bridge and is heading towards the Mushroom Kingdom as we speak”!, Event said, excitedly announcing their victory. After hearing the good news it took a moment or two for Bekuzar to process the information before suddenly jumping up excitedly and punching the wall causing the room around them to shake,”AH HELL YES FINALLY, WE ACTUALLY DID IT”! Galand How did in agreement,” yes we did, and now all forces are to gather all their Essentials, weapons, soldiers, and anything else that will be of value or useful and head straight for our main fleet. Effectively immediately, these are the orders from Bular himself”, he announced, informing his subordinate of the next phase in their plan. That new information made Bekuzar celebrate harder, him finally getting a chance to leave that Barren Wasteland and make their way to the human world. Though all he really cared about was getting to the next battle already . No before gallon had the chance to finish off the information, Bekuzar had already started celebrating“Haha yes finally we get to leave this disgusting Wasteland and make our way onto the next Battlefield just as soon as we gather all the soldiers”,he said triumphantly. Galand nodded his head victoriously,”Ah yes indeed my friend! Now oh that's left for us to do is to find, capture, and kill the Rebellion hiding within the dark lands. And by us I really mean you”. As soon as he heard that, Bekuzar Suddenly stopped cheering as he then turned to his Commander with a confused look,”Wait what?”, He asked, still confused, thinking that maybe he was hearing things that he wasn't just told that he had to still stay inside the dark lands Just to look for a rebellion group that isn't even really a threat to them. Galand smiled brightly as he continued,”Yes apparently Bular wants to make sure there's no Loose Ends that could get in our way before traveling to the new world. So we've all been assigned to finish up our operations in the selected location you were getting before making our way to the rest of the fleet. So once you’ve found and killed them off, you and the goblins here can pack everything up and make your way over to the rest of the fleet. And it is there one will start to make our way towards the Mushroom Kingdom”. After Galand finishes with his explanation of their orders, Bekuzar suddenly groans in annoyance at the new instructions he was given,”(Groans) You have got to be kidding me? He can't possibly be ordering us to continue to stay here in this wasteland and hunt down these small fries that aren't even a threat to us”!, he angrily complains . “Well I definitely can't say that I don't agree with you on that part, however I do understand why he's making this order. His main objective is to keep any loose ends from interfering with the plan As well as trying to make sure we have all the supplies we need for the trip over to the human world. All of our other comrades are probably doing the same Gathering up all the materials after finishing their objective and are currently making their way towards the main Fleet as we speak. You just have to do Bekuzar kill the rebels and be on your way towards the Rendezvous point” Galand Explains ignoring his subordinates' complaints. “Wait a second, what will you be doing throughout this entire operation? you've only mentioned what I have to do”!, Bekuzar suddenly And suspiciously questions him. “Because I was given orders to return to the work camps in order to give my aid and supervision in transporting the prisoners to the main Fleet”,Galand answered in his defense,”And considering the number of them it's going to be quite a task on my shoulders. And because there's so many of them it's going to take a while so I won't have time to be there and come back to help pack everything up in time. So I'm going to have to put you in charge of the task Finishing off the rebels and making your way over to the Mushroom Kingdom”. Bekuzar still wasn't buying that explanation, mainly thinking that it was nothing but a load of bullshit,”Wait a second, why would Lord Bular want you to help them? They should be more than capable of handling that situation on their own”. Galand Simply responded by shrugging his shoulders,” Lord Bular thinks that my incredible speed and breathtaking leadership would prove most useful with that task. Well that and the fact that he doesn't think that the Rebellion is strong enough to actually pose a threat to us. So removing a few units from this station won’t be too much of a drastic change this late in the war”. “But I still have to actually stay and spend more time in this shit hole doing nothing but having aimless searches for that pointy eared group. You might end up being one of the first to enter that new world, and fight all those possibly strong humans”, Bekuzar complained. Galand chuckled as he placed his hand on Bekuzar’s shoulder and shook his head no,”Don't worry about that old friend, Bular doesn't plan on activating the portal until all of his forces are here so you won't have to miss a tiny bit of battle”. Bekuzar palmed his face in frustration,“You make it seem as if It's so simple yet we haven't seen any sign of them in weeks. And anytime we send any scouters out We either never see them again or they send us back all the bodies as a warning”. “Bekuzar, their elves with magic that's nothing we haven't defeated before. If anything we’ve killed enemies far more entertaining than them. Who cares if they're able to hide a little bit better than all the others at the end of the day their fodder all the same”, Galand reassured, trying to break Bekuzar’s concern as he motioned his arm towards the window,”All you have to do is find and kill them before you leave here you don't even have to capture them. “But then there's still the main issue of finding their hidden base of operations in the dark lands, especially if they're using cloaking magic to their advantage. So unless one of those goblins burst through those doors and tells us that they've magically been able to find that base finding and killing them is off the tabl-”,Bekuzar Was suddenly interrupted by the door slamming wide open, Startling both Galand and Bekuzar. They both quickly turned to see who it was and to their surprise it was a random Goblin practically trying to speak with them. Suddenly growing filled with anger, Bekuzar began shouting angrily at the Goblin,”You insignificant little pest, how dare you have the nerve to interrupt an important battle strategy meeting?! Leave at once and get back to your post immediately before I tear you into confetti! Though obviously frightened by his superior's threat, The little Goblin continued speaking quickly and frantically With the words “Waka Chaka”, showing that the words were actually their native language for how they spoke to one another, as he was just as frantically pointing in a random direction. Though Bekuzar, who seemed to get more aggravated at the fact that the goblin wasn't obeying his orders to leave, Galand On the other hand was an entirely different story. He was more curious about what the goblin was trying to tell them,”Now hold on a minute Bekuzar I think that he's trying to tell us something. Though I can't seem to understand all that stuttering it's doing “. Thankfully both the warriors were quite fluid in the Goblin tongue, It was basically like human English for them. But in this case it wasn't exactly easy for them to understand him when he was just practically screaming at them the way he was. Aggravated by all of the stuttering, Bekuzar began screaming at the goblin,” QUIT FRANTICING AND TELLl US WHAT’S GOING ON”!, He loudly ordered. Startled by his superiors' outburst, the goblin took a quick deep breath before saying,”Waka Chaka”, explaining what he was talking about. After a few moments of the two warriors listening to what the goblin was splattering out of his mouth, they were finally able to understand just what he was talking about. “You found the elf rebellion camp That we've been looking for for the last few months. And the only reason that you did was because you caught an elf escorting two humans towards the camp. and you think the only reason that she was doing that must’ve been because the humans must have accidentally traveled here through the dark lands Because you and your brother found them coming out of a warpipe”! Galand Suddenly asked with surprise Of what he was just told. The goblin knotted in confirmation,”Waka Chaka”,before he then began pretending as if he was swinging an invisible sword In an over exaggerated swinging motion. Galand saw this and continued translating,”And you're also saying that one of the humans is somehow a Swordsman powerful enough to kill entire hordes of goblins. Not only that but the other human has the incredible power of teleportation”! The goblin nodded at everything Galand was saying to be true, and Bekuzar, after hearing and seeing this, Came to a sudden realization…….. He finally realized what that strange set he was smelling that entire day was, the humans, he knew there was something familiar about that scent, You don't kill a bunch of humans and suddenly forget their scent. “Son of a bitch that's where I've been smelling all day the scent of filthy humans”, he said angrily to Galand. Galand in response began to stroke his pointy chin curiously,” Humans in the dark lands that’s quite interesting”, he says, as he leans down closer towards the small goblin,” are you positive that it was humans that you saw with the elf”? “Of course there are humans here. I can even smell their scent right now! There are certain scents in the world that you never forget and the scent of humans is one of them”!, Bekuzar said, pointing to his large nose. After he said that, the goblin eagerly nodded his head as he pointed towards Bekuzar in agreement to what you were saying. “Hm interesting, and you said one of them was a powerful sword, man, capable of wiping out an entire hoard of your brethren”?, Galand asked as he leaned in a little more. The goblin once again quickly nodded his head and lifted three fingers as he then started doing another round of invisible sword swinging motions. By using both his arms in order to pretend to swing swords and picking up what look to be a stick and putting it in his mouth, he was basically doing a cheap imitation of Zoro’s three sword style that he used in his fights. Galand caught on to what he was saying and tilted his head curiously,”And you're saying that he was wielding three swords at once Against all of you”? Before the goblin could answer the question, Bekuzar scoffed loudly,”A three sword wielding human, do you hear yourself?! There's no possible way a human can be able to hold three swords, maybe at most two but three it's impossible, especially if you're using your mouth to hold one of the three swords! He's probably just exaggerating about human killing an entire horde “! Galand took his attention away from the Goblin and turned to his subordinate,”You seem sure of that”? “Why wouldn't I be? It's a completely impractical way to fight, especially if the swords are longer, you wouldn't be able to functionally Use them in a fight without them getting in the way of each other. Not to mention the incredible difficulty to fight multiple enemies at once, especially if it's a horde of goblins. It before too exhausting and straining on any Individual to fight and entire horde of goblins one by one with three misused swords, much less that of a human”, Bekuzar explained before shooting a glare towards the goblin,”I bet that the human only killed about 10 of these little pests and they had gotten so scared that the human was actually able to do so. And that resulted in the other goblins probably running off somewhere and this one running back to headquarters! If you ask me I'd say he's making this up to cover up the fact that he ran away from the enemy instead of finishing them off! We should bother with such a small inconvenience like this”! Galand shook his head at the accusation,”You know someone can’t lie while in my presence otherwise they'll be turned to stone,”He leaned in even closer to the goblin,”So it also does take me curious on how humans were able to best entire horde of goblins”? The goblin hears this, and while he's still doing the sword swinging motion he's also doing an exaggerated whooshing motion as if doing a further explanation on the swordsman. “Hmm so you're saying that this Swordsman wasn’t just fighting by the skillful means of three swords play, but while also fighting by means of some sort of unknown magical power as well he was fighting the horde Like the child he was with”?, Galand questioned. Goblin wildly nodded his head as he jumped up excitedly, confirming his questions. Galand Stepped away from the goblin as he stood tall and looked up towards the ceiling still stroking his pointy chin curiously Bekuzar Could only try and process what the hell the goblin was talking about. A human Swordsman using magical power with three swords? It wasn't exactly something he ever heard about or saw on the battlefield. He knew of magic sure but from what the goblin was telling you it wasn't a sort of magic that they were used to or really knew of for that matter. Hell he was still finding it hard to believe that a human could even hope to stand a chance against an entire horde of goblins as useless as they were. And now he's hearing that one was able to wipe them out with barely any effort That had now joined with the enemy forces “T-this can't actually be true, The only real magical elements used in this world are the power-ups that we see everywhere, some of the magical users on our side. Never been anyone else known here who can possess Magical elements Other than Merlin himself and he was defeated Long Ago by Lord Bular”, Bekuzar said aloud, poking holes into this logic Galand Didn't turn to look at him, he only continued staring up at the ceiling,”Although that might sound true you also forget that from what they're telling us. These humans are from an entirely different world that must have shot from one of the warp pipes that led into this land”, his voice and demeanor lowered a tiny bit,”This may prove to be a little more than just a minor inconvenience if we overlook this”. “How would that be”?, Bekuzar questioned as he folded his arms. Galand turned to face the ogre,”Because though goblins aren’t the most powerful species in this world, they're far from the weakest, especially if there’s an entire horde of them that are capable of wiping out whole villages. Yet one human Swordsman would take out an entire horde of them within moments, and if one human is capable of doing that, then imagine with multiple humans from them that same other world would be capable of”. Bekuzar didn't like where this explanation was going,”Are you saying that if enough of those humans from that world came here they would be able to take on our Troll kingdom's army”? Galand stared at him blankly for a moment before he suddenly began to chuckle a tiny bit As he once again started stroking his chin,”Well I don't think they will be able to accomplish that feat, but any human with any magical abilities even somewhere related to the great Merlin himself could be a problem. That case will be especially proven if they decide to align themselves with any of the Kingdom still resistant to our advances. And if they decide to attack our forces, its going to make the situation much more difficult if we're too busy fighting off enemy forces. And when that starts to happens……..”. “It'll make continuing on with the next phases of Bular’s plan impossible evolve the forces are occupied fighting”, Bekuzar finished off in an angry growl as he angrily balled his fist tightly Galand closed his eyes and nodded,” Judging by how important this cause is to lord Bular, I believe it is imminent that we nip this problem in the bud before it causes any further delay in the plan”. “Want me to go down there and handle this problem now that we know the location”?, Bekuzar asked, eager to run over to where his club was and go murder every single one of the enemy forces,”And I can bring in some of our forces with me in case what this Goblin is telling us is true”. Galand was silent for about 5 seconds before shaking his head,”No, I need someone with some authority other than myself to stay here and pack everything up in time for the departure. And I can't stay here to do so because I still need to go back to the prison and make sure everything's Packed up and ready to move to the Mushroom Kingdom”. Bekuzar, disappointed, groans loudly as he drops his shoulders. Galand, not Really noticing his subordinates disappointment, then turns to look outside the window direction the goblin said the camp was,”Though we definitely and not allow these fear the plan any longer, so here's what we'll do instead”, He says perkingly as he turned to face the older,”We’ll send out our strongest Goblin champion along with a good number of goblin forces to go To that camp and burger every last one of them including those two humans. Anything that could even be considered a threat to the plan must be eliminated immediately”, Galand Turns to look down at the goblin,” Go and find our strongest champion and make your way towards that camp, one of them in a good number of goblins And call upon our Dry Bones Force while you're at it. With them you should be able to get most of the job done, and I don't want any survivors, No more playing games for you or your brethren until this is done, kill them”!He ordered as he took his fingers off his chin and pointed towards the door. The goblin foot soldier quickly nodded his head and scurried out of the room to go and do as he was ordered, leaving the two warriors once again alone in the room. Bekuzar turns to Galand and shoots him a look of concern and anger,”What are you doing sending those useless creatures back out there?! And how will sending one goblin champion make any difference in trying to kill the same human that a goblin horde couldn't kill before?! And how the hell will we know if those things have what it takes to kill those humans”?! Galand, still staring at the direction the goblin ran off to, turns to face the concerned ogre,”Well know if any of them survive the attack and live the tell story. If they don't, then we'll have no choice but to send you and our entire force out in order to exterminate them”, Galand explained. “Wait, why don't we just send me in now when we can exterminate that entire cat within moments rather than just sending the Goblins to handle this; they're nowhere near competent enough. Think I'm more than powerful enough to be able to take all that entire camp and I still can't fully believe that a human swordsman could take down an entire Goblin horde. But also allow me to finally use my skills once again rather than sitting around at this empty Castle wasting away”, Bekuzar argued, wanting to prove that he was more than efficient to handle this matter. But Galand already knew that was the case, especially when Bekuzar was the second strongest Soldier there next to him. but there were a million reasons why just wasn't willing to send out his best warrior there, Galand Responded by shaking his head,”I need you to supervise the camp’s move and the soldiers in my absence in case everything doesn't go as planned. Since I'm not going to be here that leaves you to be the strongest soldier that we have within these walls To keep If you just take off our soldiers in line and on schedule”. “The Goblins here they're not that stupid enough to screw that up”,Bekuzar suggested, pointing towards One of the Goblins standing guard at the door, the little soldier seeming confused at the suggestion. Galand Only responded by shooting a blank stare at him,”Do you honestly think those little pests are competent enough to handle matters this serious if it's not specifically ordered to them”? Bekuzar About to answer before he stopped and actually thought about it for a second, And to be honest he actually kind of had a point there,“Well no of course not I'm definitely not saying I leave them with such an important task, but that exact same thing could be said about sending them off to an enemy they already lost to before. I could handle that entire Camp within moments and I highly doubt the human swords will approve a match against me and my life. A/nd if we wish to make it to the main Force it would be putin that we hurry up and handle this whole situation so that we could make it on time for the departure”,Bekuzar said making some valid points. “I'm leaving you in charge of preparation that we could kill two birds with one stone, while one half of our division is finishing off the enemy forces, the other half could focus on packing everything up and departing for the Mushroom Kingdom. It would be a waste of time to send out our strongest warrior there to fight such lesser beings instead of focusing on the objective we were given by our King”, Galand argued back with just as many valid points. Bekuzar still wasn’t having it, though Galand was telling him some fair points, he just couldn't agree with the decision to just bench him back at base while the henchman got to kill the enemy forces. So he just had to argue and state his case,”What if he's asking us to go and wipe out any enemy forces that can get in our way, why don't we bring our full attention to that matter. Those little fools aren't competent nor powerful enough to handle this matter unless they're an entire horde of them, and after what that little one was telling us about that human swordsman that wasn't even enough”! Galand, starting to get fed up with his subordinate questioning his orders especially since they didn't have time for it either. Galand takes aside frustration before he begins to speak,”Look, if you have such complaints but this plan you can complain to King Bular on your own time Right now this is the plan I'm making and you're going to follow it! if the situation takes a turn for the worse than fine you can handle it as you wish right now this is my order”!, he says sternly As he glares menacingly at the ogre. Bekuzar, after hearing that, was about to argue back with something else, But after seeing the terrifying glare of his commanding officer, he decides that's best for him to keep his mouth shut. He knew better than to question too many of Galand’s orders he had look on his face that basically told everyone “that I'm serious”, and when that happened they had absolutely no say in the matter Not with how cruel and unusual he could be at times. He may seem carefree and funny at times, but all of the ones who have fought beside him know his true sadistic nature especially towards disobedience subordinates. And there was no way he could lie right to face and go behind his back To fight the enemy , unless he wanted to end up being a new giant garden decoration. He had no other choice but to follow this order and go along with the plan …. That he reluctantly lowers his head and places his right arm across his chest,”Yes commander Galland”. Galland then continued as he turned away from him and walked towards the opened window,“Last thing we need to send you on a wild goose chase for an opponent that might not even be worth your skill. A few ants surely Art enough to beat a dinosaur, you know this my friend. We both know how you get when you find an opponent that doesn't entertain you soThe best course of action is to avoid another outburst In case that happens. The best course of action is to save our best player for last”. Bekuzar Watched silently as Galand made his way over to the window, preparing to leave, but not before saying one last thing, “Be sure have everything packed and ready to leave by tomorrow morning and to be sure to make haste we hadn’t got a moment to spare”, just as he was about to hop out of the window gallon, then stop before turning for one last thing,”Oh And since we are on a bit of a time crunch i’ll be sending over a few of the troll soldiers tomorrow to help Aid in packing everything up. I trust even you won’t need much supervision for that.” Bekuzar’s jaw tightened, the veiled insult barely hidden in Galand’s words. He nodded stiffly, his deep voice rumbling with suppressed anger. “Understood, Commander.” Galand smirked, clearly enjoying the ogre’s frustration. “Good. I’ll be expecting everything to be ready by the time I return. Don’t disappoint me, Bekuzar.” Without another word, Galand leapt from the window, his form disappearing into the shadows of the Darklands. As soon as Galand was gone, Bekuzar let out a growl of frustration, the sound reverberating through the room. He turned to the battered table in the center and slammed his fist down on it, the wood splintering under the force. “Damn him!” he snarled. “Sending me trolls to ‘help’—as if I need their useless hands fumbling around!” The goblins stationed near the door flinched at his outburst, their small, trembling forms doing their best to remain unnoticed. Bekuzar shot them a glare, and they scurried out of the room without a word, leaving the furious ogre alone. He stomped over to his massive club, gripping it tightly as his yellow eyes gleamed with rage. “Humans… elves… rebels…” he muttered, his voice a low growl. “They think they can play games with us. But soon, they’ll see. Soon, they’ll all see.” Bekuzar stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, his mind racing with thoughts of the battles to come. The idea of sitting idly while others fought infuriated him, but for now, he had no choice but to follow Galand’s orders. With one final, frustrated snarl, he stormed out of the council room, his heavy footsteps echoing through the castle as he prepared to oversee the preparations. If nothing else, tomorrow would bring him one step closer to leaving this wretched place—and one step closer to the carnage he so desperately craved. Bekuzar stormed down the dimly lit halls of the ruined castle, each of his thunderous steps shaking the stone beneath him. His jagged club dragged behind him, scraping along the floor with a piercing screech that sent shivers through the goblins scurrying out of his path. His yellow eyes burned with frustration, and his sharp teeth were bared in a snarl. “This is an outrage!” Bekuzar growled to himself, his voice a deep rumble that echoed off the crumbling walls. “I’m not some errand boy meant to babysit this useless heap of goblins while they get to do all the killing!” And who the hell was that psychopathic fool to come in and order him to wait around like a dog? This is exactly why he didn’t want to work under him because he was just giving Bekuzar the hard part of his job because he didn’t wanna do this himself. He knew he should’ve been asked to join the Kong Kingdom unit, even if he hated the smell of bananas. It would’ve been better than this shit. Now all he was left to do was be stuck in a baron wasteland for a few more days while the commander got to do whatever the hell he wanted This was complete and utter bullshit! The thought of goblins—goblins, of all things—being sent to hunt down the rebel camp while he was stuck here overseeing packing duties was infuriating. He smashed his fist into the nearest wall, sending chunks of stone crumbling to the ground. “If there’s a strong human out there… a swordsman who can wipe out an entire horde…” Bekuzar’s voice trailed off, his expression twisting with a mix of anger and intrigue. The thought of facing a potentially powerful opponent lit a fire inside him. A true fight was what he craved—something thrilling, something worthy of his might. And now, he was being denied the chance to test his strength against such an opponent. “What a waste!” he roared, the sound reverberating through the halls. A group of goblins cowering nearby flinched and whimpered, pressing themselves against the walls in an attempt to avoid his wrath. They all surely knew what happened to the last few dozen goblins who stood in his way and or pissed him off. And it definitely wasn’t pretty…….. Bekuzar shot them a scathing glare. “What are you looking at, you spineless little shits? Back to work, before I use your skulls to decorate my club and or these walls!” The goblins squealed and darted away, their little feet pattering against the stone as they scrambled out of sight. His mind churned as he stalked through the castle. Galand’s orders were clear, but that didn’t make them any less frustrating. The thought of goblins botching the mission infuriated him further. “They’ll probably trip over their own feet before they even reach the camp,” he muttered bitterly. But the idea of a strong human lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. A human swordsman with the power to annihilate an entire goblin horde—and, as the goblin had claimed, possibly wielding some kind of magic? It sounded absurd, and yet… the possibility was tantalizing. The challenge, the bloodshed, the thrill of battle—that was what he lived for. And there is no way he was going to let some armor psychopath getting in the way of his livelihood. Bekuzar slammed open the door to the castle’s armory, the heavy wooden panels creaking on their rusted hinges. He stood in the doorway, his massive frame filling the space, as he glanced around at the weapons and armor scattered about. “If those goblins can’t get the job done…” he growled, gripping his club tighter, “then I’ll have to clean up their mess myself.” His eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam as he imagined stepping into the rebel camp, crushing their defenses, and meeting this mysterious human swordsman in combat. “If this human is as strong as they say, I’ll make sure to savor the fight before I send him to the afterlife.” With that thought fueling him, Bekuzar stormed out of the armory, his resolve hardened. For now, he was forced to follow Galand’s orders—but if the opportunity arose, he would ensure he wasn’t left out of the bloodshed for long. They just had to be something he could do to get this site to get some entertainment otherwise he might end up throwing himself in that lava They’ve just had to be somethin- Bekuzar paused mid-step, the thought striking him like a bolt of lightning. His snarl twisted into a devious grin, sharp fangs glinting in the faint light of the castle. Why should he be forced to choose between overseeing the goblins and pursuing this enticing challenge? Why not do both? He could maintain control of the goblin forces, oversee the preparations, and still ensure the capture of the human swordsman. He just needed to issue the right orders to the goblin champion leading this hunt. A slow, sinister chuckle escaped his throat as he turned on his heel, stomping purposefully toward the goblin barracks. His club dragged behind him, the heavy thud of its metal tip echoing ominously down the hall. “Oh, this is going to be interesting,” he muttered, his grin widening. (The Goblin Barracks) The barracks was a dimly lit, foul-smelling chamber deep within the castle. Goblins of all sizes scurried about, sharpening rusted blades, patching armor, or lounging lazily on crude benches. The smell of sweat, iron, and decay permeated the air. At the center of the room stood the goblin champion. He was is an imposing and terrifying creature, significantly larger and more muscular than regular goblins. Standing around seven feet tall, its hulking body is covered in thick, coarse green skin, with scars and battle wounds marking its brutish existence. The goblin champion's face is a grotesque mix of intelligence and malevolence, with sharp, jagged teeth protruding from its wide, sneering mouth. Its red eyes burn with a cunning, predatory gleam. Adorned in mismatched and crude armor scavenged from fallen enemies, the goblin champion wields a massive club or weapon, demonstrating its brutal strength and dominance on the battlefield. He had an enormous, hulking figure, towering over the other goblins like a living monolith. His body was thick with bulging muscles, his greenish-gray skin scarred from countless battles. A monstrous horn jutted from his forehead, cracked and chipped from years of brutal combat. His glowing yellow eyes burned with a cruel, animalistic intelligence. The champion’s armor was a mismatched collection of looted pieces—metal plates reinforced with leather straps, a massive chest plate stained with dried blood, and a tattered cape draped over one shoulder. In his massive clawed hands, he held a colossal greatsword, its jagged edges caked with grime and gore. He moved with a brutish confidence, his every motion exuding raw power. The goblins around him gave him a wide berth, some cowering as he bellowed orders in their guttural tongue. His deep, guttural voice rumbled through the chamber like the growl of a beast. Bekuzar strode into the barracks, his massive frame immediately drawing attention. The goblins froze in place, their chatter dying down to fearful silence. The champion turned his head, his glowing eyes narrowing as he straightened to his full, towering height. “Bekuzar,” the champion rumbled, his voice a deep growl. “What brings you to my barracks?” Bekuzar didn’t bother with pleasantries. He pointed his club at the champion and snarled, “You’re being sent to hunt the elf rebels, yes?” The champion nodded slowly, his scarred lips curling into a smirk. “That’s right. I’ll crush their little camp and bring their heads back to hang on my wall. And maybe save a few of them for a light snack later too.” Bekuzar’s grin returned, though it was more menacing than amused. “Forget about just their heads. I have a new order for you and you’re going to follow through on it.” The champion tilted his head, curiosity flashing in his eyes. “There’s a human swordsman with them. From what I’ve been told, he’s strong—strong enough to wipe out an entire goblin horde,” Bekuzar said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I want him alive. Do whatever it takes to capture him, but don’t kill him. Understand?” The champion’s smirk widened, revealing jagged teeth. “Alive, huh? That’s unusual. What do you want with him? And what our orders were to kill everyone in the rebellion?” Bekuzar’s grip on his club tightened, his yellow eyes gleaming with excitement. “That’s none of your concern. Just follow your orders. Bring him back alive, no matter what. The rest I could care less for. Do what you will with them but bring him to me.” The champion let out a low, rumbling laugh, hefting his massive sword onto his shoulder. “Fine by me. I’ll crush the elves and drag this swordsman back in chains that or unconscious.” “Good,” Bekuzar growled. He took a step closer, his towering frame looming over the champion. “But don’t underestimate him. If he truly has magic on his side, he’ll be more dangerous than any rebel we’ve faced. Be weary of the opponents you are about to face, as many of them. have the means of magic and fighting capabilities. so do yourself and your subordinates a favor and bring enough forces to overwhelm them and burn that camp to the ground.” The champion’s eyes gleamed with savage confidence. “ don’t worry, sir. I’ll take your message to the heart. And as for the human, he’ll wish he was dead when I’m through with him.” Bekuzar turned, his heavy steps echoing as he headed back toward the main hall. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered under his breath. “Just don’t disappoint me, champion. I’ll be watching.” The goblin champion’s grin grew wider as he began barking orders at his underlings, preparing for the hunt. Goblins scrambled to gather their weapons, their shrill voices rising in chaotic chatter. The champion’s greatsword gleamed in the dim light as he swung it experimentally, the air hissing with the force of his strike. The hunt was on, and Bekuzar knew that soon enough, he’d have his entertainment. Whether the goblins succeeded or failed, the human swordsman would be his. One way or another For now, he would head back to complete his task and ensure that they were ready for phase 2 of their grand scheme. (The Elven War Camp) It had been about 10 minutes of them walking through the camp. The goblin’s retreat through the scorched, barren wasteland left an eerie silence in the distance as the elven camp settled into its rhythm for the evening. Alicia led Zoro and Vanellope deeper into the camp, pointing out various areas and facilities. The pair, still adjusting to the sight of elves casually performing tasks and the surreal surroundings, followed quietly. Touring the Camp “As you can see, this camp is small but efficient,” Alicia began, gesturing to the surroundings. “Over there is the smithy where we repair weapons and armor.” She pointed toward a small forge, the glow of molten metal casting warm light across the smith’s stern face as he hammered away. Sparks danced in the air, illuminating racks of blades and arrows. Zoro gave an approving nod, impressed by the craftsmanship he saw. “Not bad. Pretty solid work.” Vanellope looked curious as she pointed toward a pond that shimmered unnaturally. “What’s with the lava pool over there? Does it, like… cook food or something?” Alicia chuckled. “No, that’s used for crafting enchanted weapons. The lava is infused with magical properties from the Dark Lands, making it ideal for forging stronger gear. We try to scavenge whatever advantages we can from this wasteland.” Vanellope’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. “Okay, that’s actually kinda awesome.” Alicia smirked, continuing toward the massive tree in the center. “This is the heart of our operation.” The tree’s colossal branches spread out like protective arms, and atop its platforms, elves armed with longbows stood watch, scanning the horizon with sharp eyes. “From here, we monitor everything within miles. The magical barrier helps, but we rely on scouts and lookouts to warn us of any approaching danger.” Zoro stared up at the tree, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt. “Impressive. But a barrier won’t stop a determined enemy. You’ve got a lot of gaps if someone’s smart enough to exploit them. Otherwise, I’ll tear this little rebellion apart piece by piece.” Alicia glanced back at him with a smirk. “True, but that’s why we rely on teamwork. Well that and we elves are a lot more clever than they tend to give us credit for. As you’ll see soon enough once you get to see us in action firsthand. But for now, I think it’s about time. You both got some shut eye. We could talk more later”, she then stepped away from the tree and start heading in a different direction of the camp ,”come on. Follow me. I’ll lead you to the tent you’ll be staying in”. It took a couple minutes before Alicia finally pointed out, “All right here we are”, Alicia said that she pointed up the medium size 10 in front of the duo,” this is where you two will be sleeping”. Finally able to stop, both Zoro and Vanellope look upon the place where they were going to be resting their heads. And to be honest, well it wasn't too bad……. Its exterior, woven from what looked to be enchanted black silk, glistened in the moonlight, camouflaging it within the shadows of the tree it resides next to. Zoro whistled as he started to scan the area for the other tents,”Hmm, Not bad for a war camp”, impressed with how honestly nice looking tents were. “Yeah well, we had to make sure we at least slept comfortably if we were going to battle against the enemy”, she said she then placed a hand on the tent,”Well that and before we set up the force field, we had to make sure the tents made for good camouflage hideout if the enemy were to spot our camp. While the other two were conversing Vanellope decided to go inside the tent and check out the interior,” I wonder if the inside looks as good too”, she says she opens up the tent and enters inside”. And to be honest that part looked even better. Inside, the tent exudes an ethereal glow, emanating from delicate crystals embedded in the walls. The air inside was almost imbued with the scent of forest moss and wildflowers, creating a serene atmosphere amidst the chaos of war ground. Runes were also etched into the tent's fabric, as if it were meant for a spell of some sort though it was unknown to either one of them. Vanellope also spotted two elegantly carved wooden beds, draped in plush, moss-green blankets, to provide comfort and rest for the duo. There were more elven runes inscribed on the bedposts and were sewn into the sheets and blankets. “Yeah it does. It definitely does”, the little girl says that she’s been hopped on the bed and sighs in relief. Zoro comes in right after her, takes a quick look at everything inside the tent and notices the strange runes inside. He squinted his to get a better look at the detail of the runes. The symbols were slender and elongated, with elegant curves and interwoven lines that felt like a sense of flowing motion. They also incorporate shapes reminiscent of leaves, vines, and celestial forms, reflecting the elves' in some sort of deep connection to their culture. The runes were etched with precision and artistry. They even glowed faintly with an ethereal light when he looked closely. He raises a curious brow at them,”(Inside his head) The hell are those things”, he thought as he reached forward and touched on the strange symbols carved into the bedpost. “Those are our magical Elven runes”, he heard Alicia say as she stepped into the tent. Zoro, without looking up at her, then asked,”What the hell's an Elf rune”? “They’re a series of intricate and elegant symbols used by us elves for writing, magic, and enchantments. These runes are used in spells to protect, heal, or enhance. They are typically inscribed on various surfaces, like our weapons, armor, and enchanted items, or woven into the fabric of elven clothing and tents like this one. Basically these runes are what the magic users in our kingdom typically create in order to use magic”, Alicia explained as she took out one of her arrows and pointed at the ruins carved into it. Vanellope glanced towards one of the runes on the arrow and pointed at it curiously,”Who wait you make that magical carving yourself”?, Asking the elf about her weapon. Alicia responded by shaking her head,”No, that’s usually the job for our mage Khilseith. But the rest of us do practice every now and again just in case he’s either too tired or not around”, she continued to explain as she then pulled a handkerchief from her back pocket, revealing yet another even rune sewn into it,”Though they’re not as powerful due to magic not being our specialty, but they do help when fighting in battle or on our expeditions”. Once she finished the explanation, she went back into her pocket and pulled something out before tossing it to Vanellope. She catches it and sees that it was what looked to be a miniature Gollum carved out of a stone with the elven ruin carved into its chest,”Whoa”, she says, impressed with its design. “Some of them could even be considered a good luck charm for those of us who were sent out to war”, she explained to the young child. Vanellope, finished with admiring the charm, stands up on the bed and tries to make her way over to the acher, only for Alicia to raise her hand and stop her in her tracks,”Keep it you might need it just in case”. The little girl smiled and nodded before placing the miniature stone golem into her hoodie pocket. Vanellope grinned as she tucked the charm into her pocket. “Thanks! I’ll call him… uh, Fred.” Zoro, figuring that they had enough time to settle down, Decided that it was time to ask what their next move was. He turned to Alicia and asked,”Hey so when the hell are we going to go look for our friend Luffy anyway”? She turned her attention to him, “Well first I have to go to a meeting with the rest of my team to discuss our upcoming strategy as well as hearing any updates that the commander has. But once we've discussed that will then bring you up the topic of what to do with you two and your whole situation”. “How long is that gonna take”?, he continued to press on. Though that only seemed to make Alicia shrug her shoulders,” I myself don’t particularly know it basically depends on the amount of information each of us has to discuss. That and along with any orders that are going to be dished out during the meeting. But I promise you as soon as we're done we’ll make it a top priority to discuss the situation and what to do for you”, she reassured strongly. But that reassurance wasn’t really enough to keep him from feeling a little off. The last thing he wanted to do at this moment was to sit there and hide from enemies that were going to be hunting them. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it was just him on his crazy adventure, but it wasn’t. He had a little girl with him, but he had to make sure I made it home safe and out of the way of unnecessary danger. He really didn’t have time to be sitting around on his ass as much as he usually would. Especially now it’s a situation where he and Luffy are once again separated and they don’t know where each other are. And yeah, what she was saying might’ve been a little reassuring, it doesn’t mean that they still didn’t need to hurry up and think of a plan. For all Zoro knew he’s idiotic Captain could be out there doing something stupid and getting into a bunch of crazy shenanigans. It doesn’t help that they have that guy in the white suit currently hunting them. They needed to keep moving, they end up in another confrontation with him and others like him. If he was gonna be 100% honest, you probably wouldn’t have gone back to the camp if it was just him by himself unless he was just trying to get some sleep. But alas he would just have to wait it out and see what the elves think, if they don’t help them then they’ll have to figure something else out simple as that. So with that, Zoro reluctantly nodded his head in agreement,” yeah all right sure”. And seeing that they pretty much settled down into their temporary accommodations, Alicia figured it was about time for her to make her way to watch the meeting tent,” OK now that you both are here and winded down, it’s about time for me to go, but don’t worry I’ll be back as soon as possible to check up on you. Until then, just stay in this tent and try not to wander off or touch anything. If you need any of us will be in the big tent at the center of camp”, she said as she gave them a small wave and quickly exited the tent and headed straight for the big tent, leaving the duo inside. As she was walking towards the tent, she couldn’t help but suddenly feel doubtful about the decision she made to bring them to camp. Sure, she was glad to have been able to help the humans out but since she’s brought them here, all it really did was cause a few issues and worry between her comrades. If she was going to be 100% honest, she was starting to feel regretful about suddenly bringing them to camp. All it did and was going to do was cause a strain between her and her comrades to figure out how to handle their situation rather than the mission they were assigned. Well, she herself didn’t follow every single order off the bat, even when it made sense at the time couldn’t help, but it meant that Orrian had a point. Bring two human strangers here and offering to help them out with their situation when they themselves already have a mission to deal with wasn’t the best idea. The group is already too small stretch, too thin with trying to continue their assignment in the dark lands adding more problems for them to try to solve and fix was just gonna be too much for them to handle. Yes, she wants to help them, but after seeing that weird look on Orrian’s, it brought a bit of doubt to her mind. It was weird because it wasn’t usually an expression that he would show them, but for the first time since she’s known him, he looked as if something was really on his mind bothering him. And that only meant that she wasn't going to be filled with good news. And then that would only mean that the situation was only going to grow that much harder to deal with and get through. And that was only just their current situation without even adding a new one they were in with these humans. If she was gonna be honest, she didn’t know where the hell they were gonna start with helping them look for their missing friend. If he went through a different pipe that would mean that they would have to leave the dark plants in order to go help them look for him. But that was obviously impossible because they had a mission they needed to complete. They couldn’t leave even if that’s what they all wanted to do and that’s only if she was able to convince her comrades to go along with helping them. Due to the horrifying actions that were committed by humans so long ago, it didn’t exactly make them the most like species even after their extinction. And this apply to most creatures, not just elves so to be honest, she’d be lucky if she was able to convince one of her friends to help aid them. She would really need to hope that she had enough of a golden tongue to be able to convince them to prioritize this. She was gonna be honest she had no idea what kind of news was going to be said in this meeting. But there was one thing she was definitely sure wasn't going to be great news. As Alicia approached the central tent, her footsteps grew heavier, not from physical exhaustion but from the weight of her thoughts. The elven camp bustled around her with a quiet efficiency, but she barely noticed. Her mind was consumed by the nagging doubts that had been building since she brought the humans here. Yes, she was glad she’d been able to help Zoro and Vanellope escape the goblins, but now that she had a moment to reflect, the consequences of her decision began to sink in. She’d acted on instinct, not strategy, and that wasn’t something Orrian—or the others—would overlook easily. What was I thinking? she wondered, letting out a quiet sigh. Sure, she wanted to help. It was in her nature to do so. But bringing two human strangers into their already fragile camp had been a reckless move. They were already stretched too thin as it was, balancing survival and their mission in the Dark Lands. Adding more complications to the mix wasn’t just risky—it was dangerous. She thought back to Orrian’s reaction, that sharp, scrutinizing look he’d given her. It wasn’t the anger or frustration that stuck with her. No, it was something deeper—something unspoken. For the first time since she’d known him, Orrian had looked… concerned. And not just about the humans. There was something weighing on him, something heavy enough to make him hesitate, and that worried her more than she wanted to admit. The implications gnawed at her. If the news Orrian brought to this meeting was as grim as his expression suggested, the last thing they needed was an added distraction. Yet here she was, bringing in two humans who needed help finding a friend in a world neither of them understood. Alicia shook her head, her frustration building. What am I supposed to do now? If she couldn’t convince her comrades to help, what would that mean for Zoro and Vanellope? They couldn’t leave the Dark Lands—they still had their mission to complete, and failure wasn’t an option. But could they really just leave the humans to fend for themselves? Her pace slowed as she considered the implications. Even if Orrian agrees to help, what then? Their forces were too small to spare a significant number of people for a search. And what if the missing friend was somewhere far beyond the Dark Lands? Crossing into enemy territory—or worse, into lands ruled by other creatures who despised humans—was a risk they couldn’t afford to take. And then there was the humans themselves. While Zoro seemed capable—frighteningly so, if the reports of his battle against the goblins were to be believed—Vanellope was just a child. Fragile, vulnerable. Alicia couldn’t shake the image of the girl huddled in fear when she first found her. That wasn’t a face she wanted to see again, but could she guarantee the camp’s protection would be enough? The prejudice against humans was another obstacle entirely. Even though they’d been extinct for centuries, the scars left behind by their atrocities still lingered. Creatures across the land, not just elves, carried memories of what humans had done. She could already feel the unease from some of the others in the camp when Zoro and Vanellope arrived. Convincing them to help wasn’t just a matter of logic—it would require breaking through years of deeply ingrained resentment and fear. And then there was the mission. Whatever Orrian had to say tonight, it wasn’t likely to be good news. Alicia could feel it in her bones. The timing couldn’t have been worse, and she hated that she might be the one to add more stress to an already strained situation. She stopped just short of the tent’s entrance, letting out a slow, steadying breath. The warm light spilling through the flap was inviting, but it also marked the point of no return. Whatever news awaited inside, she had to be ready to face it—and the consequences of her decision. Alicia glanced back toward the camp, where Zoro and Vanellope’s tent stood silhouetted against the dim glow of the enchanted barrier. She’d made a promise to them, and she intended to keep it. But as she squared her shoulders and stepped into the meeting tent, the weight of that promise pressed heavier on her than ever. A few minutes had passed since the elf girl left, enduring that time both Zoro and Vanellope were just getting comfortable in their tent. Both were sitting on each of the two beds, with Zoro removing his three swords from his belt and Vanellope snuggling comfortably against the pillow on her,”This bed isn’t bad for it bed in a tent, huh Zoro”, the young girl asked the pirate swordsman. Zoro looks up at her while he’s placing his swords beside the bed,” Yeah well don’t get too comfortable, we’re not gonna stay long. This is just a pitstop for us to get some rest and be ready for the journey ahead of us”, he sternly reminded her. She didn’t question what he was saying at all as she responded by saying,”Yes sir”, as she nodded her head. But what he said also made her wonder what they were going to do once they were all rested up. Were they going to wait for the elves to make a decision on whether or not to help them or were they going to go and try to look for Luffy and the sunny on their own? She wasn’t really sure on what to do next on this crazy adventure that she was sort of thrown in? She had kind of gotten caught into the mix of this whole ordeal and had just been following Zoro and Alicia’s lead throughout the entire situation. And now that they had made it to the first destination. She was really starting to worry about what they were going to do afterwards. Since they hadn’t discussed anything further past them coming to this camp she felt now was the time to figure out what other plans Zoro had cooking in his head. She would’ve tried giving her own input, but because this was her first real adventure that she had been on, she had been trying to just follow along with what Zoro was doing. But now she knew it was time for her to start getting caught up the speed,”So what are we gonna do if they decide not to help us? It was about time she knew about the next stage in their plan just so that later on, she's not just throwing into the mix of it again. He kept her waiting on an answer for about a minute before answering with,”Then we'll have to go and look for them ourselves, or at least try to find one of those green pipes from earlier to travel through”, he explained closing his right eye and cupped his chin, as if to think of something. Vanellope after hearing that started to feel a cloud of doubt, however, over her mind. If she was gonna be on the she wasn’t sure that that plan would be the best one to follow, especially with her knowing about Zoro’s poor sense of direction. There was no way she was just gonna randomly follow him throughout this hellhole when neither one of them knew where to go or where they were. With their current luck, they would end up randomly wandering into a location where it was infested with more of those little green goblin monsters she barely escaped earlier. Sure, Zoro could probably handle randomly walking through a dangerous place like this, but she certainly wasn’t equipped for it, she was still just a child. Not to mention the fact about how much energy it took to keep glitching on its own, but traveling real long distances we’re just playing exhausting. And she knew that Zoro couldn’t fight those things and protect her at the same time so it would be a massive disadvantage to them. Even if she was going to go with the plan, the least they could do to help them out in their journey would be to ask them to see if they have a map for them to use. Even as a child, she knew better than to just trust Zoro’s sense of direction no matter how much of a fan she was. So yeah, there were definitely a few holes in the plan that they would need to discuss with one another. “Oh OK well, then what if instead of that we tried to talk them into helping us”, she suggested, really trying to avoid that last plan if she could. Zoro thought about it for a moment before almost seemingly shrugging it off,”Yeah sure that could be a possible solution, though I’m not gonna put my cards on that”, he said, with his back turned to her. “Huh, wait what do ya mean,”? she asked, confused. Zoro was quiet for a minute before answering,”Kid there's no guarantee that they’re gonna wanna help us just because it’s the right thing to do. From what we’ve seen so far we kind of arrived here at the wrong time to ask them for help for them while they’re in the middle of a war. It wouldn’t be surprising to me if they told us that they didn’t have time to do the situation they were in. They have their own situation they’re going to have to deal with and it won’t exactly benefit them. If they have to worry about ours”, he explained. It still didn't stop all the questions she had for him,“But are we really just gonna go back out there and just wander around until we get one of those green pipes? How do we know if we’re gonna be able to do that when we don’t know where we are or where anything is in this place”? Zoro was going to try to answer the question but stopped himself because if he was going to be honest he wasn't fully sure what to do other than Zoro. Unfortunately for her Zoro didn't really have that answer to give her. getting sucked through a magical green pipe to a whole other dimension wasn't exactly Something he had previously done on any of the adventures he had ever been on. Usually if he had ever gotten separated from the other straw hats he would simply get back up and walk around until either found them or found someone who knew the way of the land to help lead him to the other straw hats. Hell if he were lucky sometimes he would get stuck with another Straw Hat member so that the two would be able to figure out a plan on how to continue on the adventure. Things are a little different this time around considering that not only was he alone and not with another straw hat but this time he had that child with him that knew next to nothing about being in a situation like this and barely had that much control over her powers. Granted this wasn’t his worst complicated situation he had to deal with, but After waiting a moment for him to continue talking Vanellope stood up on her bed and looked at him worriedly,”Zoro”? Zoro was snapped out of his thoughts and realized that he hadn’t given her an answer yet so he went with what was in his gut as he leaned back on the bed, staring up at the fabric ceiling of the tent, his arms crossed behind his head. He let out a deep sigh, signaling that he was taking a moment to process everything. This wasn’t like his usual adventures—this time, he had a kid with him, one who was looking to him for guidance. That was a new layer of pressure he wasn’t used to. “Look, kid,” Zoro finally said, breaking the silence. “I get it. You’ve got a lot of questions, and you’re worried about what’s gonna happen next. But here’s the thing—you don’t need to have everything figured out all at once.” Vanellope sat cross-legged on her bed, fiddling with the little carved stone golem Alicia had given her. “Yeah, but it’s not like we’ve got a lot of time, you know? What if something bad happens to Luffy while we’re just sitting around waiting for these elves to decide whether they’ll help us?” Zoro’s expression hardened for a moment at the mention of Luffy, but then he smirked slightly. “Heh, trust me, kid. If there’s one thing I know about Luffy, it’s that he’s too stubborn to go down without a fight. He’s probably out there somewhere causing trouble and making friends like he always does.” Vanellope looked up, her brows furrowed. “You really think so?” Zoro nodded. “Yeah, I do. That idiot has a way of surviving the impossible. It’s kinda his thing. But that doesn’t mean we can just sit on our hands. We’ve gotta be ready to move, whether the elves help us or not.” Vanellope frowned, clearly still uneasy. “But what if we end up going the wrong way? I mean, no offense, Zoro, but… you’re not exactly great with directions.” Zoro narrowed his eyes at her, his pride clearly stung. “Hey, watch it, kid. I’m plenty good at finding my way—” “You got lost on a straight path earlier,” Vanellope interrupted, raising an eyebrow. Zoro grumbled under his breath, clearly annoyed but unable to argue with the truth. “Fine, fine. I’m not a damn navigator, okay? But I’m good at figuring things out. If we have to go it alone, I’ll find a way.” Vanellope hesitated, looking down at the little golem in her hands. “Still, wouldn’t it be better to at least have a plan? Like, maybe we could ask the elves for a map or something before we leave? That way, even if they don’t wanna help, we won’t be totally clueless.” Zoro considered her suggestion for a moment, his one visible eye narrowing as he thought it over. “Yeah, a map wouldn’t hurt,” he admitted begrudgingly. “But don’t get your hopes up. These elves are in the middle of a war. They might not have time to play tour guide for a couple of lost humans.” Vanellope nodded, though she still didn’t seem entirely reassured. “I just… I don’t wanna end up in some place even worse than this. Those goblins were bad enough. What if there’s something out there even scarier?” Zoro sat up slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at her. His expression softened just a bit. “Listen, kid. I know this place is dangerous, but you’ve got me, all right? I’ve faced things way scarier than those goblins, and I’m still standing. You just stick close, and I’ll handle whatever comes our way.” Vanellope offered him a small smile, clearly comforted by his confidence. “Thanks, Zoro. I guess it’s kinda cool having a bodyguard who’s, like, the best swordsman ever.” Zoro smirked, leaning back again. “Damn right it is.” The two fell into a more comfortable silence after that, each lost in their own thoughts. Vanellope curled up on the bed, still clutching the little golem, while Zoro closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax for the first time in what felt like hours. But even as he rested, Zoro couldn’t fully shake the weight of their situation. He wasn’t about to let the kid see it, but the truth was, he didn’t have all the answers. For now, all he could do was hope that the elves’ meeting would bring some clarity—and maybe, just maybe, a little help. ,” We‘ll, just have to cross that bridge when we get there we’ll talk it out and discuss what to do next. Right now, our main focus should be getting rest so that we can prepare for this new journey”, he said encouragingly. With that he then carefully propped his swords onto the side of his bed and slowly Started to lay down on his back and place his hands behind his head and his usual sleeping position Vanellope watched Zoro settle into his sleeping position, his movements deliberate and composed as he leaned back with an air of confidence that only someone like him could manage. His hands clasped behind his head, his swords resting neatly at the side of the bed within easy reach. For a brief moment, it was as if nothing in the world could phase him. She sighed and laid back on her own bed, staring up at the ceiling of the tent, the faint glow of the elven runes casting gentle, swirling patterns above. “Guess you’re right,” she said softly, more to herself than him. “No point stressing over stuff we can’t control. It’s just… I’ve never done anything like this before, you know? It’s kinda scary.” Zoro cracked one eye open to glance at her. “Scary, huh? Well, that’s how you know it’s worth doing.” Vanellope turned her head to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means,” Zoro said, his voice calm but firm, “anything worth doing is gonna scare the hell out of you sometimes. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be much of an adventure, would it?” She blinked, considering his words. “I guess you’ve got a point. I mean, look at you. You’re, like, always in crazy situations, and you never seem scared.” Zoro chuckled softly, the sound deep and low. “That’s where you’re wrong, kid. I’ve been scared plenty of times. But fear doesn’t mean you stop moving forward. It just means you’ve got something worth fighting for.” Vanellope fell silent at that, his words sinking in as she mulled them over. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something reassuring about the way Zoro talked—like he’d already seen the worst the world had to offer and come out the other side stronger for it. “Well,” she said finally, snuggling deeper into the plush blanket on her bed, “if you can handle it, I guess I can too.” Zoro smirked, closing his eyes again. “That’s the spirit. Just stick with me, and you’ll be fine.” The gentle rustle of the tent fabric and the distant hum of the elves going about their business outside filled the quiet that followed. For the first time since their chaotic arrival in the Dark Lands, a sense of calm seemed to settle over them. Vanellope yawned, her eyelids growing heavy. “Hey, Zoro?” “Hm?” he responded without opening his eyes. “Thanks for, y’know… sticking with me through all this. Even though I’m just a kid.” Zoro’s smirk softened into something almost resembling a genuine smile. “Don’t mention it, kid. Now get some sleep. Tomorrow’s gonna be another long day.” “Yeah,” she murmured, her voice already drowsy as sleep began to claim her. “Goodnight, Zoro.” “Goodnight,” he replied simply, his tone calm and steady, like a rock anchoring her in an unfamiliar world. As the minutes passed, the tent fell silent save for the quiet breathing of its two occupants. Outside, the elven camp remained vigilant, its guards scanning the horizon and its warriors preparing for whatever lay ahead. But for Zoro and Vanellope, this brief moment of peace was a much-needed reprieve in an otherwise chaotic adventure. Well……….. That would be…………………if she felt like pushing her curiosity down into her gut and sleeping But she didn’t She thought she was tired earlier, but turns out she had a lot more energy than she originally thought she did Vanellope lay on the bed, staring at the soft glow of the runes etched into the tent fabric. Her body felt still, but her mind buzzed with restless energy. She shifted under the plush green blanket, trying to close her eyes and let sleep take over. But it was no use—she had been out cold earlier when Zoro carried her, and now her energy reserves felt completely replenished. With a groan, she sat up, her short legs dangling off the side of the bed. “Okay, I guess I’m not as tired as I thought,” she muttered to herself. She glanced at Zoro, who was lying on his own bed, hands tucked behind his head, snoring softly. His swords rested against the bedframe within easy reach, as if even in sleep, he was ready for anything. Lucky guy, she thought. He can just doze off like it’s nothing. Vanellope flopped back onto the bed, kicking her legs in frustration. She could feel her curiosity bubbling up, and with each passing second, it grew harder to suppress. The camp was so quiet now, and the mysterious vibe of the place tugged at her sense of adventure. Vanellope stared at the tent ceiling for a long moment, the dim glow of the elven runes casting soft shadows that danced like tiny spirits. She twisted under her blanket, her mind too active to succumb to sleep. Despite Zoro’s reassuring words, a persistent knot of curiosity—and maybe a bit of mischief—was coiling in her chest. She glanced back over at the swordsman. Zoro, true to form, was already out cold, his breathing steady and his expression relaxed. His three swords were neatly propped against the side of his bed, their polished blades catching faint glimmers from the glowing runes. Vanellope smirked to herself. He probably doesn’t even dream; the guy’s like a sleeping statue. Her gaze drifted back to the glowing runes etched into the tent walls. There was something about them—an energy she could almost feel. It wasn’t just their beauty or craftsmanship; it was as if they were alive, humming softly, calling out to her. She sat up quietly, trying not to disturb Zoro. “ Maybe I can go off for a little walk. Get a good look at the place,” she muttered to herself. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her small feet landing silently on the cool, moss-covered floor. With a curious tilt of her head, she reached out and touched one of the runes on the wall. A faint warmth pulsed under her fingers, and the rune shimmered brighter for a brief second before returning to its steady glow. “Whoa…” she whispered, leaning in closer. The intricate design of the rune seemed even more detailed up close, its curves and lines flowing into one another like a living piece of art. “What do you do, little guy?” She pressed her hand flat against the rune this time, hoping for some kind of reaction. For a moment, nothing happened, and she began to feel a little foolish. But then, a soft ripple of light spread out from the rune, like a pebble dropped into a still pond. The glow illuminated the tent briefly before fading away again. Vanellope’s eyes widened, her heart racing with excitement. “Okay, now that was cool.” She glanced over her shoulder at Zoro. Still sleeping. She figured she had at least a little time before he woke up and started grumbling about her “wandering off” or “getting into trouble.” “Alright, little rune, let’s see what you’re hiding,” she whispered with a grin. She began to inspect the other runes on the walls, running her fingers over them, tapping lightly, and occasionally pressing her ear against the fabric of the tent as if she might hear something. One rune in particular caught her eye. It was larger than the others and situated just above the entrance to the tent. Its design was more elaborate, with spiraling lines that seemed to radiate outward like the rays of a tiny sun. When she reached up to touch it, a soft vibration hummed beneath her fingertips. The rune glowed brighter than the rest, and a faint sound—like a distant whisper—filled her ears. She couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was soothing, almost musical. The light pulsed gently, and for a moment, she felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. “Okay, this is officially the coolest thing ever,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She sat up again, her mind made up. “Well, I guess a little walk around won’t hurt,” she whispered to herself. “I’m a big kid. I can handle this.” With a careful glance toward Zoro, Vanellope tiptoed toward the back of the tent, where the fabric wasn’t tightly secured. She slipped through the gap as quietly as she could, holding her breath as she made her escape. Once outside, she straightened up and took in her surroundings. The camp was bathed in moonlight, the soft glow from the magical runes on the tents adding an ethereal touch to the scene. It felt peaceful and almost otherworldly, and Vanellope couldn’t help but grin. Now this is more like it. She wandered toward the massive tree at the center of the camp, its colossal branches looming over everything like a protective canopy. The closer she got, the more details she noticed—the intricate carvings on the tree’s base, the faint hum of magic in the air. She reached out to touch the bark, her small fingers brushing against its cool surface. “Whoa,” she breathed. “This place is like something out of a fairy tale.” Vanellope continued her exploration, moving past the forge. The tools were neatly arranged on a workbench, and a few unfinished weapons lay nearby. She picked up a small dagger, its blade shimmering faintly with magical energy. “Cool,” she said, holding it up to examine it. “Bet this could take down one of those ugly goblins.” After a moment, she carefully set the dagger back in its place and wandered toward the shimmering pond she had noticed earlier. Up close, it was even more mesmerizing, with molten streaks of gold and crimson swirling beneath the surface. She crouched by the edge, staring into the glowing depths. “Okay, this is officially the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” she said to herself, her reflection distorted by the magical water. The camp remained quiet, with no elves in sight. Vanellope stood up, brushing off her hands, and decided to explore further. She passed rows of tents, each one crafted with the same care and precision as the one she and Zoro were staying in. But there were no signs of life—no elves performing tasks or standing guard. “Where is everybody?” she wondered aloud, a hint of unease creeping into her voice. Despite the eeriness, her curiosity drove her forward. She was determined to see as much of the camp as she could before anyone noticed she was gone. After all, it wasn’t every day she found herself in a magical elf war camp. And she was still weighing on whether or not she wanted to be the last or not. Vanellope wandered through the camp, her small steps echoing faintly against the quiet backdrop of the night. The camp, though sparsely populated at the moment, felt alive with its unique charm and peculiarities. Even if she didn’t quite understand everything she saw, she was determined to make sense of it in her own way. She passed by the large forge again, the residual heat still emanating faintly from the coals. “Alright, I’m calling this place the Fire Pit of Awesomeness,” she declared with a grin, gesturing dramatically to the racks of weapons and the glowing embers. “I bet they make the coolest stabby-stabby things here.” Next, she found herself in a small clearing with several wooden racks holding what looked like scrolls and maps. There were a few strange glowing stones scattered around, pulsating softly with a greenish light. She picked up one of the scrolls, squinting at the elven runes. “Hmm… let’s see,” she said, holding the scroll up like a treasure map. “This must be the Elven Brainiac Zone. Probably where they come up with all their super genius plans to fight off those ugly goblins. Smarties gotta be somewhere, right?” Continuing her journey, she spotted a fenced-off area with a few peculiar tools lying about—nets, wooden traps, and devices she couldn’t even begin to identify. “Ooooh, what’s this? Some kind of… Goblin Catcher Workshop? Yeah, that sounds about right. If they’ve got traps, they’ve gotta be catching something.” The silence in the camp didn’t bother her too much; she figured the elves were probably off doing important elfy things. Still, it was a little weird not seeing anyone at all. Even the towering tree at the camp’s center, which she had marveled at earlier, felt eerily deserted. She stopped beneath its enormous branches, looking up at the platforms overhead. “Okay, tree, you’re officially The Big Tall Looky Place. You’re welcome,” she said, giving it a mock salute before moving on. As she ventured farther, Vanellope came across an area where large stones were arranged in a circle. Each stone had intricate carvings glowing faintly with runes, similar to the ones on the tents. She tilted her head, inspecting the area. “Huh… I’m calling this the Stone Huddle of Mystery,” she decided, walking around the stones and running her hands along the carvings. “Bet it’s some kind of super-secret elf hangout. Or maybe it’s where they play rock-paper-scissors, elf-style.” Despite her amusement, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. The camp was just too still, and her overactive imagination started to fill the silence with thoughts of goblins creeping through the shadows. “Nah,” she said, shaking her head and puffing out her chest. “I’m way too fast for those guys. They wouldn’t even get close.” Feeling a little braver, she wandered to the edge of the camp, where a series of peculiar artifacts were laid out on wooden tables. Some were glowing faintly, others looked ancient, and a few were outright bizarre—like a helmet with what seemed to be feathers sprouting from it. “Alright, this is definitely The Table of Weird Stuff,” she declared, reaching out to touch one of the glowing artifacts. The moment her fingers grazed its surface, a faint hum filled the air, and the glow brightened. “Whoa! Okay, okay, maybe I shouldn’t touch stuff,” she said, quickly pulling her hand back. “But that was kinda cool.” Even though she was having fun naming everything and exploring, Vanellope still couldn’t help but feel like she was the only one in the camp. She put her hands on her hips, scanning the area. “Seriously, where is everybody?” she muttered. “This place is like a ghost town. Are they all hiding or something?” Her voice echoed faintly, and she paused, glancing around nervously. She wasn’t scared—well, maybe just a tiny bit—but the quiet was starting to feel unnatural. Still, her curiosity hadn’t run out yet, and she wasn’t quite ready to go back to the tent. “Guess I’ll just keep exploring until I figure it out,” she said, her determination renewed. “I’m not afraid of a little quiet.” With that, she continued her journey through the enigmatic, deserted camp, naming everything she saw and trying to piece together what kind of world she had wandered into. As vanellope continued exploring the camp suddenly she came across would look to be a massive tent towards the center of the camp That must be where everyone else is Letting her curiosity get the best of Hershey quickly made her way over to the giant tent However, as she got closer, she could hear some commotion from inside the tent Though she was curious, she wasn’t sure if she should just walked inside the tent and interrupt whatever they were talking about. The last thing she wanted to do was cause trouble for Zoro or any of the elves here by being guest that would invade the others privacy Through on the other hand, a large part of her still wanted to know what they were talking about and just couldn’t help but want to check out where this could go Vanellope carefully crept closer to the large central tent, her tiny frame making it easy to stay out of sight. Her curiosity had taken over entirely, and she couldn’t resist the temptation to find out what the elves were discussing. She tiptoed around the tent’s perimeter until she spotted a small, worn hole in the fabric, just large enough for her to peek through. But before she could place her eyes through the hole, Vanellope hesitated for a moment, standing outside the massive tent that seemed to hum with tension and purpose. Her small hand brushed against the fabric, her heart racing as she debated what to do. Do I sneak a peek, or do I play it safe? The little girl’s insatiable curiosity won out, and her sharp eyes caught sight of a worn patch near the top of the tent—a perfect spy hole. “Just one peek,” she whispered to herself, crouching low and scrambling up to the vantage point with the nimbleness of a cat. She pressed her eye to the hole and peered inside. Only to find all of the elves that she have met were all standing around a circular table with a map chart of what look to be the entire dark lands area and specific locations charted down. It looked as if they were strategically planning something, though she had to get a better listen to hear what they were saying. As she pressed her eye to the hole, she saw all the elves she’d met earlier standing around a circular table. A large map was spread out across it, depicting what appeared to be the entirety of the Dark Lands. Several locations were marked with symbols, some encircled or crossed out. The elves seemed engrossed in their discussion, their expressions serious and their voices hushed but firm. Vanellope strained her ears to catch what they were saying. “…The goblins are becoming more aggressive,” said Ruven, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “It’s only a matter of time before they figure out where we are.” “Which is why we need to strike first,” replied Bellas, her tone sharp and urgent. “If we wait too long, we’ll be the ones cornered.” Elrohir shook his head, his voice calm but resolute. “We don’t have the resources for a direct attack. Our forces are already stretched thin, and any reckless move could cost us everything.” Alicia, hearing all this couldn’t help but point out something,” well actually that’s not fully true in the last few weeks of my patrols I’ve noticed a recent decrease of goblin activity not just the dry bones don’t seem to be making much of an appearance either”. Jacob then thought about it for a moment before giving me his opinion on it,” well maybe they’re moving at different times then when we do our patrols, that’s probably why we haven’t seen them”. “But how can that be? I’ve changed my patrol schedule five times the last two weeks and I’ve still seen a lack of them anywhere”, she said in response,” hell the three goblins I killed today were the most I’ve seen in days”. Bellas hearing this couldn’t help but chime in about that,” do you think they might be scared to face our forces now or that maybe they’re trying their best to avoid us”? Before Alicia can answer, Ruven spoke up,” highly doubtful, though our attacks are strategic and well placed. They’ve hardly done enough damage to hold off any of their operations. If anything, it amazes me how they wouldn’t be motivated to target us sooner”. Alicia soaking this in, cross her arms and stroked her chin gently thinking this over. Definitely planning something there was no question about that, but there was no way they could get answers for it now. It was clear that the enemy was probably preparing to make some sort of move had no idea when and how it was going to happen. And there was nothing that the elves could really do much about it, other than mainly sitting around toileting, their thumbs, and go on with their daily patrols. It’s not like they could head straight to their headquarters and launch a full on assault enemy has way too many forces on them. They’d be wiped off the battlefield before long. That fact goes, especially when there are hordes of dry bones and goblins. They would quite literally be torn apart them from them before they would even get the chance to do any damage. Vanellope leaned in closer, her heart racing as she tried to process their words. Wait, was this all about what’s going on in the dark lands now? Was all this weird stuff that they were talking about meeting something that she just couldn’t understand? What’s gonna happen to them moving forward? So many questions ran through her ears, but unfortunately, she didn’t have anyone to answer them. All she could do is listen and watch. Before either, Alicia could think further on this and Vanellope could ask more questions about the situation, suddenly, the flap of the tent opened, and Orrian, the leader of the group, stepped inside. His presence immediately silenced the others, and all eyes turned to him. His usually composed demeanor was shadowed by a heavy frown, and the air in the tent grew tense. The sight before her was something out of a fantasy strategy game. All the elves she had met earlier were gathered around a large circular table, their faces grim and tense. A map stretched out before them depicted the entirety of the Dark Lands, marked with numerous red and blue pins. Runes glowed faintly on the edges of the parchment, pulsing like a heartbeat. Weapons and other artifacts were scattered around the room, and the air was thick with an unspoken dread. Vanellope squinted, trying to focus on the leader of the group—Orrian, that’s his name!—as he strode purposefully into the room. His usual stern demeanor was even darker now, his face set with a heavy seriousness that made her stomach twist. All eyes turned to him as he approached the table. Everyone has to be quiet while they waited for him to announce why they were brought here. Orrian began speaking, his voice low and burdened with the weight of terrible news. “The Penguin Kingdom… has fallen.” Gasps rippled through the room, followed by murmurs of disbelief. Alicia, standing near the edge of the group, clenched her fists tightly, her jaw set in frustration. “How?” Khilseith demanded, his voice sharp with anger. “We had sent reinforcements weeks ago. How could they have been overrun so quickly?” Orrian’s gaze dropped to the map, his hands braced on the table. “It wasn’t just an ordinary attack. Bular’s forces unfortunately arrive there much earlier than anticipated . By the time reinforcements arrived, it was already too late. The kingdom has been reduced to ruins and the enemy was gone.” Khilseith slammed his fist against the table in response,, causing the map to jolt. “ they showed up early? That means…” Their voice trailed off as realization set in. “Yes,” Orrian confirmed, his voice somber. “The last piece of Killerhead Bridge has been found. Bular’s army now has all the components they need to complete the bridge.” Alicia’s face paled. “Then they’re heading for the Mushroom Kingdom next.” Orrian nodded gravely. “Exactly. Once the bridge is restored, the Dark Lands will no longer contain them. They will unleash their full might upon the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. If that happens… there will be no stopping them.” Elrohir then added,”And once the bridge is activated, and they have the ability to cross over to other worlds, the magic of the bridge will release them of their curse of the sun, rendering them almost entirely indestructible and invulnerable”, his demeanor soon began to darken as the horrifying realization filled the room,” they’ll be able to conquer and decimate other worlds with ease without having to worry about their vulnerability of sun, allowing them to roll over the entire universe”. Vanellope’s eyes widened as she listened. Terrified of what she just heard……….. The tension in the room was palpable, the urgency pressing down on everyone like a heavy weight. She clutched the edge of the tent hole, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what she was hearing. A bridge? The Mushroom Kingdom? This Bular guy sounds like big trouble. She didn’t exactly know what kind of enemy these elves were up against, but if they were as powerful as they were saying, they were then if they had the ability to come to other worlds and if they accidentally show up at their world and came to East blue……. Oh god………… Millions would be slaughtered before a single marine or Navy or even emperor pirate would bother to intervene. spoke up. “We need to act now. If Bular’s forces are mobilizing, we can’t afford to wait. The rebellion must strike before the bridge is completed.” Orrian’s expression darkened further. “Our forces are already stretched thin. The Penguin Kingdom was was one of our crucial allies, and with their fall, we’ve lost a crucial supply line and reinforcements”. Bellas then spoke up though it was clear that she was trembling,”W-well maybe we should think about all of this for a second”. Khilseith then looked at her and snapped,” Think about what short stack?! What is there to think about?! We’ve lost! None of the kingdoms could stop him from getting that bridge completed and now he’s got what he needs to take over the entire fucking world”! Bellas Flintstone a little bit which Alicia noticed before she suddenly stared daggers at Khilseith,” HEY! Lay off of her she’s just asking a question and it’s not as if we are completely out of options”. But the dark elf wasn’t finished yet,”What other options could be possibly have in that situation?! There’s nothing that any of our weapons could do so much a scratch those monsters! Hell we could barely take on the hoards of goblins and dry bones here in this god forsaken wasteland”! Despite his outburst, they all kinda knew he wasn’t wrong. This situation had gotten a lot worse than they thought. It's pretty much confirmed that they had lost the battle against the trolls and they didn’t even get the chance to fight it yet. There was an awkward, dreadful silence hung among the rebellion members no one knowing what to say. well, that wasn’t untilJacob Elfington, the goofy yet earnest member of the group, was the first to break the silence. His voice wavered slightly as he adjusted his crooked spectacles. “So… what’s the plan now? I mean, if Bular found the last piece of the bridge, what’s the point of us staying here anymore?” Orrian let out a deep sigh but didn’t immediately respond, his gaze fixed on the map. Khilseith Sharie, the sharp-tongued mage of the group, crossed his arms and scoffed. “It’s a valid question, isn’t it? The logical thing would be to pack up, regroup with the fleet, and join the council meeting on Kong Island. Or does the great Orrian have some secret master plan he hasn’t shared with the rest of us?” Alicia shot a glare at Khilseith. “Cut it out, Khilseith. Let him speak.” Orrian raised a hand to silence the brewing argument. “The allied kingdoms are indeed gathering on Kong Island for a council meeting to decide whether or not to retaliate. The Elf Kingdom has already dispatched its representatives and troops to join the discussion.” “Well, that’s good,” Bellas Crabella chimed in, her voice hopeful. “So we’ll head there too, right? We can make our way over with the rest of the fleet.” But as soon as Bellas spoke, she noticed Orrian’s demeanor shift. His expression darkened, and the weight of his silence made the air in the tent feel heavier. “We can do that… right?” Bellas asked, her voice quieter now. Orrian took a deep breath before finally responding. “No. We won’t be heading to Kong Island.” The tent erupted into a cacophony of voices. “Wait, what?” Jacob nearly tripped over himself in his surprise. “But why not? Isn’t that where we’re needed?” “This better not be another one of your ‘strategic’ calls, Orrian,” Khilseith said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “We’ve barely managed to survive out here, and now you want to—what? Keep us in this wasteland?” Alicia furrowed her brow. “Orrian, what’s going on? Why wouldn’t we regroup with the fleet? What are we still doing here?” Orrian’s voice was calm but firm as he answered. “Because the kingdom has ordered us to stay.” “What?!” Ruven Ilikian, typically the cool-headed one of the group, couldn’t hide his frustration. “Stay? For what possible reason?” Orrian clenched his jaw, his knuckles tightening against the edge of the table. “Our orders are to continue our mission here in the Dark Lands and prepare to launch a full-scale attack on Bular’s base.” The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint rustle of the tent fabric in the wind. Jacob’s voice cracked as he stammered, “B-Bekuzar’s base? You mean the one that’s swarming with Dry Bones and goblins? That base?” “Yes,” Orrian confirmed grimly. “Are they out of their damned minds?” Khilseith exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “We’re six people. Six! Against hordes of undead and goblins? I know the kingdom likes a good underdog story, but this is ridiculous.” Bellas placed a hand over her heart, her face pale. “But… that base is a fortress. How are we supposed to even get close, let alone take it down?” Ruven tried to keep his composure, though a faint tremor crept into his voice. “Why? What could possibly justify this? We’re talking about a suicide mission.” Orrian’s gaze didn’t waver as he explained. “The kingdom believes that cutting off Bular’s forces here will delay his next move. They think we can cripple his supply lines and scatter his forces enough to buy time for the other kingdoms to mobilize.” “That’s insane,” Alicia said, her voice rising. “Orrian, we’re too few. Even with the camp’s full strength, we’d barely put a dent in their numbers. And what happens when they retaliate? This isn’t a delay tactic; it’s a death sentence. Those things will rip us apart before we even step foot the castle a bad idea.” Jacob nodded frantically. “Alicia’s right! We don’t stand a chance. They’ve got Dry Bones! Those things don’t even stay down when you kill them!” Ruven stepped closer to Orrian, his tone sharp but measured. “Have you even considered the logistics of this? The kingdom is asking us to take on an impossible task. Did you even try to argue against it?” Orrian’s voice dropped, heavy with the burden of his decision. “Do you think I don’t know that? Do you think I didn’t fight back when I received the orders? This wasn’t my call to make. It came from the kingdom itself.” “That doesn’t make it right!” Khilseith shot back. “Orrian, you’re supposed to lead us, not blindly follow orders that will get us killed!” Orrian’s glare silenced Khilseith. “I am leading you. And if we’re going to survive this, we’ll need to work together instead of arguing like children. We just need to figure out a plan that could get us past their forces and shut this entire operation down” ” HOW! How the hell are we supposed to do that?! It’s only six of us and I doubt my magic is strong enough to hold off those kinds of forces at least not without completely exhausting myself! And last I checked, YOU YOURSELF SAID THAT IT WAS A STUPID IDEA TO TAKE AN UPFRONT OFFENSIVE ATTACK AGAINST THE ENEMY, RATHER WE USE THE SHADOWS TO OUR ADVANTAGE SO THAT THEY WOULDN’T WIPE US OFF THE BATTLEFIELD!“The dark elf angrily argued back. The room fell silent as the weight of Khilseith’s words sank in. Each member of the group seemed to retreat into their own thoughts, grappling with the grim reality of their situation. Especially when he voices it the way that it is in such a harsh but realistic way. Though they didn’t disagree, it kind of brought any chance of motivating them down because of how hopeless he made their situation feel like. It was as if you were saying you had no chance whatsoever of taking this enemy on Bellas finally spoke, her voice trembling. “What… what happens if we fail?” “We don’t have the luxury of failure,” Orrian said simply. “We’ll plan. We’ll strategize. And we’ll fight like our lives depend on it—because they do. Don’t you see guys? We don’t have any other choice we have to complete this mission otherwise bular will have his full arm at his disposal and take over the entire world.” Vanellope’s heart sank as she continued listening to the conversation inside the tent. “Well?” Ruven pressed, his normally calm demeanor showing cracks of frustration. “Why don’t we just regroup with the others and come back with reinforcements? At least then we’d stand a chance.” The elves’ leader, Orrian, stood in heavy silence for a moment after one of the others—Ruven, she thought—suggested going back to the kingdom for reinforcements. Orrian’s shoulders stiffened, and he glanced down at the map. The silence was almost deafening. “Oh no,” Bellas muttered, her face paling. “They’re not sending reinforcements, are they?” Orrian sighed deeply, his voice quieter than before. “No… they’re not.” Khilseith didn’t even have to get angry for this part. Alicia beat him right to the punch literally. Alicia slammed her fist on the table, her eyes blazing with fury. “You’ve got to be kidding me! They’re seriously leaving us out here to deal with this on our own? They can’t expect us to take on an entire fortress with just six people!” Ruven’s jaw tightened as he crossed his arms. “So they expect us to die out here with no support on a whim? That’s the plan?” Jacob, who had been nervously fidgeting with a dagger, froze in place. “D-die? W-we’re not gonna d-die, right?” His voice cracked as he glanced at Orrian, desperate for reassurance. Bellas placed a hand on Jacob’s shoulder to steady him, though she looked equally shaken. “This… this can’t be their final decision. Maybe if we—” “They’ve made their decision,” Orrian interrupted sharply, though his tone lacked the usual authority. He sounded tired, defeated even. “The kingdom has no spare forces to send. Every soldier is either heading to Kong Island or fortifying defenses against Bular’s advance. They can’t risk taking forces from either one of the sides”, his demeanor and tone begin to lower as he finished off his sentence his voice barely above a whisper,” he’re on our own for this one”. Khilseith sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm and bitterness. “Oh, of course. Send us to do the dirty work while the real soldiers get to sit in their fortified castles, no there asses and argue politics over tea and biscuits. FUCKING Typical!” “Khilseith, that’s enough,” Orrian said, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness. “No, it’s not enough!” Khilseith snapped, stepping closer to Orrian. “Do you even realize what you’re asking of us?! Six people—six, Orrian—against a fortress filled with goblins, Dry Bones, and whatever other monstrosities Bular has at his disposal! Even if we somehow manage to survive, what then?! Are we supposed to walk to Kong Island afterward and pretend everything’s fine?! The goblin destroyed our means we never survive with these things swarming around this place!” “Khilseith—” Alicia started, but Khilseith cut her off. “No, Alicia, let him answer! What’s the real plan, Orrian?! Or are we just pawns to be sacrificed for the kingdom’s convenience?! or maybe tell me how you could possibly agree with this shit?!” Orrian then took a deep breath, his face a mask of weariness. “I’m not saying I agree with them,” he began, his voice low but steady. “But the kingdom has its reasons for making this decision.” “Reasons?!” Alicia snapped, slamming her hands on the table. “What possible reason could justify throwing us to the wolves like this?” Orrian didn’t flinch, though he looked even more tired as he answered. “Because this isn’t just about the Dark Lands or even the rebellion. The kingdom believes this mission is critical to the larger war effort. If we can take out this fortress—cripple Bular’s forces here—it will slow their advance significantly.” “Slow their advance?!” Khilseith interjected, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, brilliant. Let’s sacrifice six elves and two humans for the possibility of buying the kingdom a few extra days. Do you have any idea how many of those monsters are out there? We might as well just be an appetizer for those devils.” “It’s not just about time,” Orrian said sharply, cutting him off. He straightened, his voice gaining more authority as he continued. “This fortress is a key supply hub for Bular’s army. It’s where they’re stockpiling weapons, provisions, and reinforcements. If we destroy it, we don’t just slow them down—we weaken them. Severely.” Ruven frowned, his analytical mind working quickly. “Even if that’s true, how do they expect us to do this with so few people? Surely they know the odds.” “They do,” Orrian admitted, his gaze falling to the map. “But they also know we’re their only few options that they haven’t tried yet. The rest of the kingdom’s forces are either tied up defending our borders or preparing for the council meeting on Kong Island. There’s no one else they can spare.” Bellas looked hesitant as she spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. “But… isn’t that a gamble? If we fail, they lose us and the chance to take out the fortress.” Orrian nodded grimly. “It is a gamble. But from their perspective, it’s one worth taking. If we succeed, the blow to Bular’s forces will be devastating. And if we fail…” He paused, his jaw tightening. “Then at least we’ll have tried. And what if they try to get information out of us? Then they’ll know our kingdoms plans.” Jacob, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, suddenly blurted out, “A-and why us? Why not someone else? There must be other groups closer to the Dark Lands, right?” “Because we’re here,” Orrian said simply. “We’re already in position. Sending another group would take too long, and by then, the fortress will be reinforced even further. The kingdom is counting on us to act now, while they’re busy preparing for the next half of this war.” Khilseith crossed his arms, his expression dark. “So, let me get this straight. The kingdom expects us to pull off a near-impossible mission with no backup, no resources, and two humans we’re somehow supposed to keep alive during all of this? Am I missing anything?” “Only that failure isn’t an option,” Orrian replied evenly, meeting Khilseith’s glare head-on. “Of course it isn’t,” Khilseith muttered, shaking his head. “Typical. They send us to do the impossible, and when it all falls apart, they’ll wash their hands of us and say we were expendable. and look at you acting as their little fucking dog!” Orrian’s expression darkened, and he locked eyes with Khilseith, his tone low and steady. “You think I don’t know what they’re asking of us?! You think I haven’t spent every moment since we got these orders questioning how we’re supposed to pull this off?! But we’re here now! This is our mission! If we abandon it, the kingdom loses valuable time, and Bular gains the upper hand!” “He already has the upper hand he completed the bridge and has the trolls the Coopers and the Kremlin’s working together! It’s a loose loose situation”!, The dark elf snapped back. “So we’re supposed to just… die for time?” Bellas asked softly, her voice trembling. “No,” Orrian said firmly. “We’re supposed to fight for time. And if that means risking everything, then so be it. That’s what we signed up for when we joined the rebellion. for fuck sake guys this is what we signed up for that’s the whole point of joining a rebellion. To go out and fight and or die for a cause that was bigger than ourselves we can’t act surprised now we’re just now getting moments like this. That’s what the whole world is about sacrifice fighting dying for something better for the people who deserve it. We can’t be surprised now that we’ve come to this point”. Outside the tent, Vanellope listened in stunned silence, her small hands trembling as she clung to the worn hole in the fabric. Vanellope crouched in the shadows, her tiny fingers gripping the edge of the worn fabric of the tent as she tried to steady her breathing . The weight of what she’d overheard pressed heavily on her chest, her mind racing to make sense of it all. She barely understood half of what they were saying, but one thing was clear: these elves were in just as much trouble as she and Zoro were. They were outnumbered. Outmatched. And now, thanks to her and Zoro, the stakes had risen even higher. It wasn’t just the elves’ lives at risk anymore—it was theirs, too. She leaned back, resting her small back against the cool bark of a nearby tree. “This is bad,” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. “This is really, really bad.” Her thoughts began to spiral. They had barely escaped the goblins earlier. If hordes of dry bones and goblins were waiting at that fortress, how could six elves and two outsiders hope to survive? Zoro might be the strongest person she’d ever met, but even he wasn’t invincible. And she? She was just a kid—scrappy, sure, but nowhere near strong enough to take on armies. What could she do? She didn’t know how much her glitches would help against an army of goblins and dry bones. But as fear clawed at her, another thought pushed through: They’re doing this anyway. Despite the odds, despite the lack of reinforcements, the elves were still planning to carry out their mission. They didn’t whine about how unfair it was, didn’t even seriously question whether they should follow their orders. They were doing it because it was their duty. Because they believed it mattered. These elves had something she didn’t: experience. They’d been fighting in this war long before she and Zoro ever showed up. Her fingers brushed against the charm Alicia had given her earlier. She pulled it out, staring at the small stone golem with the glowing elven rune carved into its chest. It was supposed to bring good luck, but it didn’t feel like it was enough. Her thoughts flicked back to Zoro. He was tough, no doubt about it, but he wasn’t exactly a strategist. And let’s face it—he couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag, let alone navigate a battlefield without help. The elves, They were clearly good at what they did, but they didn’t know how they were going to get through this hell hole alive. They didn’t know what she could do. Her heart pounded as she realized the stakes of their situation. These people weren’t just fighting a war; they were on the brink of annihilation. And she and Zoro were caught right in the middle of it. Just as she was about to climb down and maybe go back to Zorro to tell him what she had over her, Vanellope suddenly squinted into the distance, her focus snapping away from the tense conversation in the tent. At first, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her—a fiery ball glowing brightly in the pitch-black horizon. It pulsed with a strange, almost hypnotic light, flickering like a star fallen from the heavens. But the more she watched, the clearer it became that this was no ordinary celestial phenomenon. The ball wasn’t just glowing—it was moving. Fast. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it wasn’t alone. Behind it, dozens—no, an entire barrage of similar fiery orbs—were streaking through the sky in perfect formation, their fiery tails leaving trails of smoke and ash in the air. They weren’t descending gently like falling stars; they were hurtling toward the camp with deadly precision. “Oh no…” she whispered, her voice barely audible as panic tightened in her chest. She pressed herself closer to the side of the tent, her small hands clutching at the fabric. Her mind raced, struggling to process what she was seeing. Were those… meteors? No, they were too controlled, too deliberate in their trajectory. They looked alive, as if some malevolent force was guiding them straight toward the camp. “Those aren’t stars,” she murmured to herself, her voice trembling as she then quickly realize what those objects really were. “Oh no… those are—those are fireballs! They’re being launched at us!” Her stomach churned as she followed the arc of the fiery projectiles. They weren’t just random; they were targeted. Vanellope’s eyes darted toward the horizon, searching desperately for the source. There! In the far distance, just barely visible against the darkened landscape, she spotted a faint, flickering glow. It wasn’t just the fireballs illuminating the area—it was something even larger, something massive, almost like a siege weapon. Her heart sank further. Catapults. Or worse—some magical, living artillery. Whatever they were, they had multiple of them and they were aimed right at the hideout. And being launched with no restraint or regard for any lives inside She looked back at the barrage, watching as the fiery orbs grew closer, their intense heat already shimmering in the air. They moved with terrifying speed, lighting up the wasteland as they streaked overhead. The closer they came, the louder the ominous whooshing sound grew, filling the air like the roar of an oncoming storm. Vanellope’s pulse quickened as she realized how close the first fireball was to hitting the camp. She spun on her heels, her tiny feet skidding on the dirt as she bolted toward the tent. “They’ve got to know!” she muttered, her voice frantic. The conversation inside the tent was still raging, their voices filled with tension and frustration. But Vanellope didn’t have time to wait for them to finish. She burst through the flap of the tent, her face pale and her breath coming in panicked gasps. “GUYS!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the heated argument like a knife. The elves all turned to her in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of confusion and alarm. “Vanellope? What are you doing—” Alicia began, but the panic in Vanellope’s eyes stopped her mid-sentence. “There’s something coming!” Vanellope blurted out, pointing toward the direction of the fireballs. “Big, fiery things! A whole bunch of them, and they’re heading straight for the camp!” The elves froze for a moment, exchanging looks of disbelief before Ruven bolted toward the tent’s entrance. He yanked the flap aside and looked out into the night. His sharp elven eyes widened in horror. “By the gods… she’s right.” The others scrambled to join him, their gazes snapping toward the fiery barrage rapidly closing the distance. The air outside crackled with heat as the fireballs streaked closer, illuminating the camp in a flickering orange glow. “What the hell are those?!” Khilseith demanded, his voice tinged with both shock and anger. “Siege fire,” Ruven said grimly, his jaw tightening. “Launched from enemy catapults—or worse, magical artillery.” “Get everyone up!” Orrian barked, his voice sharp and commanding. “Sound the alarm! Move, now!” The camp erupted into chaos as the elves leaped into action, their argument forgotten in the face of the impending attack. Bellas scrambled toward a nearby bell, ringing it frantically to alert the rest of the camp. Alicia grabbed her bow and slung a quiver of arrows over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the sky for the incoming threat. Vanellope stood frozen in the chaos, her small frame trembling as she watched the elves rush to defend their camp. She had warned them, but now that the fireballs were almost upon them, she couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness. “Vanellope!” Alicia’s voice snapped her out of her daze. The elf knelt down in front of her, gripping her shoulders tightly. “Get back to your tent and stay there! Do not come out until I tell you it’s safe, understand?” Vanellope nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “But what about you guys? What if—” “We’ll handle it,” Alicia said firmly, cutting her off. “Just stay safe, okay?” Before Vanellope could respond, Alicia was gone, sprinting toward the outer edge of the camp to join the others. The first fireball crashed into the ground just outside the camp, exploding in a blinding flash of light and heat. The force of the blast shook the earth, sending waves of scorching air rippling through the camp. Vanellope stumbled backward, her hands flying up to shield her face from the heat. She turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her, her heart pounding in her chest. As the fireballs rained down around her, the camp descended into a frenzied battle for survival. The first fireball exploded with a deafening BOOM, the shockwave shaking the very ground beneath the camp. The elves, already scrambling to respond, were momentarily thrown off balance. Flames erupted in the distance, casting flickering shadows across the camp as the fireballs continued their deadly descent. “EVERYBODY GET DOWN!” Orrian roared, his voice cutting through the chaos. He dove to the ground, pulling Bellas down with him just as another fireball tore through the air and smashed into a storage tent. The explosion sent wooden crates and shards of debris flying in every direction, igniting smaller fires that began to spread rapidly. Vanellope instinctively hit the ground, pressing her tiny body flat against the dirt. Her heart thundered in her chest as she clamped her hands over her ears, the roar of fire and the panicked shouts of the elves blending into a cacophony of chaos. Alicia scrambled to her feet, drawing her bow with practiced precision. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon, trying to locate the source of the attack. “Khilseith! Can you see anything?!” Khilseith, crouched behind a stack of barrels, peered out toward the fiery barrage. His glowing eyes narrowed, his voice laced with urgency. “It’s coming from the east! The trajectory—it’s definitely siege fire! There’s got to be at least three launchers out there!” “Three?! We don’t have the manpower to take that on!” Ruven shouted as he ducked behind the large central tree, narrowly avoiding a stray piece of flaming debris. Orrian’s voice was steady but commanding as he barked orders. “Bellas, get to the well and start putting out those fires! Ruven, help her! Jacob, grab the spare weapons and start distributing them—everyone needs to be armed!” “What about the Dry Bones?! If this is a siege, they’ll be sending ground forces in next!” Jacob shouted, his face pale as he frantically gathered supplies. “Then we deal with them when they show up!” Orrian snapped. “For now, we survive this attack! MOVE!” Vanellope pressed herself tighter to the ground, her mind racing. She couldn’t stay here, not with fire raining from the sky. She thought of Zoro, still asleep in the tent, completely oblivious to the chaos erupting around them. She wanted to run back to him, to shake him awake and tell him what was happening. But her small legs were frozen in place, her body trembling as she stared at the explosions lighting up the camp. Another fireball crashed into the ground just a few feet away, sending a plume of dirt and fire into the air. The blast knocked Vanellope onto her side, her ears ringing as the world spun around her. “Get up, kid! MOVE!” Alicia’s voice cut through her daze as the elf sprinted toward her. Alicia grabbed Vanellope by the arm and yanked her to her feet, practically dragging her toward a cluster of barrels for cover. Vanellope stumbled along, her eyes wide with fear. “Z-Zoro… he’s still asleep!” “I’ll take care of him later! Right now, you need to stay out of the open!” Alicia said firmly, shoving Vanellope behind the barrels. Vanellope crouched low, clutching the charm Alicia had given her earlier as if it were her lifeline. The fireballs kept coming, each impact shaking the camp to its core. The heat was suffocating, the air thick with smoke and ash. Despite the chaos, Orrian’s voice rang out above it all, directing the elves with precision. “Khilseith, get those shields up! Jacob, reinforce the southern perimeter! Alicia, cover the northern side!” Vanellope watched as the elves worked together, their movements swift and coordinated despite the overwhelming odds. It was like watching a well-oiled machine in action, each of them playing their part to keep the camp from falling apart. She clenched her fists, her small body trembling with fear and frustration. She wanted to help, but what could she do? She was just a kid—a kid who could glitch, sure, but what good would that do against a rain of fire and an army of monsters? As the explosions continued, Vanellope’s gaze shifted toward the tent where Zoro was still sleeping soundly. Her heart twisted in her chest. She had to do something. She couldn’t just sit here and wait for the camp to be destroyed. But what? What could she possibly do? Jacob scrambled up one of the wooden watchtowers near the edge of the camp, his heart pounding in his chest. The structure wobbled slightly under his weight, but he managed to stabilize himself as he reached the top. Pulling a small spyglass from his belt, he scanned the horizon, his hands trembling as he adjusted the lens. The horizon glowed faintly with the orange light of the fireballs still streaking through the sky. At first, he couldn’t see much beyond the hazy, smoky distance, but then—there it was. His breath caught in his throat as the figures came into focus. “Oh no…” he whispered, his voice trembling. Through the spyglass, he saw them: a massive horde of goblins and Dry Bones, their skeletal frames glowing faintly in the dim light, their grotesque forms marching in perfect unison. The horde stretched as far as the eye could see, an unending wave of terror. At the forefront of the group was a towering figure, a goblin unlike any Jacob had ever seen before. The goblin champion was an enormous brute, easily twice the size of the others. His green skin glistened with war paint and battle scars, and his jagged armor looked as though it had been pieced together from the bones of his enemies. In one hand, he wielded a massive club, its spiked surface stained with blood. His glowing red eyes radiated an aura of dominance, and his deep growl was loud enough to carry even to Jacob’s perch. The champion raised his club high, letting out a guttural roar that spurred the horde into a frenzied charge. The ground seemed to shake beneath their feet, the sound of clattering bones and guttural goblin war cries growing louder with each passing second. “Oh no… oh no, no, no…” Jacob stammered, nearly dropping the spyglass as he scrambled back down the tower. He hit the ground running, his legs wobbling beneath him as he sprinted toward the central tent. His panicked shouts cut through the cacophony of chaos. “They’re coming! They’re coming! A horde of Dry Bones and goblins, and they’ve got a champion leading them!” Orrian, who had been helping Ruven secure the perimeter, froze at the news. His sharp eyes locked onto Jacob as the younger elf skidded to a halt, panting heavily. “What did you see?” Orrian demanded, his tone sharp and urgent. Jacob gulped down air before blurting out, “A whole horde! Hundreds of them! And they’re being led by this… this massive goblin! He’s got a spiked club, and he’s huge! They’re heading straight for us!” The elves exchanged grim looks, their expressions darkening. “They must’ve used the fireball barrage to flush us out,” Alicia muttered, her hands tightening around her bow. “And now they’re sending the horde to finish the job.” Khilseith’s face twisted with frustration as he threw his hands in the air. “Of course they are! Why wouldn’t they bring the entire damn army? Because that’s just our luck, isn’t it?” Orrian ignored the outburst, his mind already working to form a plan. “How far out are they, Jacob?” “Not far,” Jacob replied, his voice trembling. “Maybe five minutes at most. They’re coming fast.” “Five minutes…” Orrian’s jaw tightened as he turned to the others. “That’s not enough time to fortify the camp. We’ll have to hold them off here.” “What?! Hold them off?!” Bellas squeaked, her eyes wide with panic. “Against a horde? Orrian, we’re outnumbered a hundred to one! We’ll be torn apart!” “We don’t have a choice!” Orrian snapped, his tone sharp but steady. “If we run, they’ll hunt us down before we even make it to Kong Island. Our best chance is to fight here, in familiar terrain.” Ruven stepped forward, his expression grim but resolute. “Then we make our stand. Everyone, gather your weapons and armor. This is going to get ugly.” As the elves sprang into action, Vanellope peeked out from her hiding spot behind the barrels, her small hands trembling. She could see the fear in their faces, but also the determination. They were ready to fight, even knowing the odds were stacked against them. But as she watched, her gaze drifted back toward the tent where Zoro was still sleeping. Her stomach twisted in knots. Should she wake him? He was their strongest fighter—if anyone could take on a champion goblin and an army of monsters, it was him. But Zoro had told her to let him rest, and she didn’t want to disobey him. Her mind raced as she tried to decide what to do. Orrian’s voice thundered through the camp, cutting through the panic like a blade. “All right, everyone! Battle stations! NOW, NOW, NOW!” His commanding tone snapped the elves into action as they scrambled to their positions, grabbing weapons, and securing their defenses. Alicia sprinted toward the tree at the heart of the camp, her bow already in hand. She nimbly climbed to one of the elevated platforms, where a quiver of enchanted arrows waited. Her eyes scanned the horizon as she knocked an arrow, her sharp elven sight catching glimpses of the horde charging toward them. “They’re getting closer!” she called out. “We’ve got less than three minutes before they’re on us!” Ruven barked orders as he and Jacob began reinforcing the perimeter. “Set up the barricades! Anything we can use—wood, crates, rocks! Move, move, move!” Jacob, though still pale with fear, nodded and began dragging supplies to fortify the camp’s entrance. Khilseith, his hands already glowing with the faint shimmer of magic, muttered an incantation under his breath. The runes etched onto the ground surrounding the camp began to glow brighter, forming a faint magical barrier. “This’ll slow them down,” he said, though his voice wavered with uncertainty. “But it won’t hold for long if that champion gets close.” Bellas was visibly shaking as she hurried to help secure supplies. “I-I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” she stammered, clutching her weapon tightly. Alicia glanced down from her perch and called out, “Bellas, focus! You’ve trained for this. We need you out there!” Bellas took a deep breath, nodded, and forced herself to steady her hands. Orrian remained at the center of the chaos, his calm demeanor masking the storm of thoughts running through his mind. He directed everyone with precision. “Khilseith, reinforce the barrier as much as you can! Alicia, take out as many as you can from range—focus on the Dry Bones! Ruven, you’re with me on the front lines! Bellas, support from mid-range—use the cover to your advantage!” Vanellope, crouched behind a nearby barrel, watched the elves spring into action with a mixture of awe and fear. They were clearly experienced, but the sheer size of the approaching horde made her stomach churn. Her fingers brushed against the charm Alicia had given her as she whispered to herself, “What am I even doing here?” The sound of the horde grew louder—a cacophony of bone rattles, guttural growls, and war cries that sent shivers down her spine. She peeked out from her hiding spot just in time to see the goblin champion at the forefront of the horde, his massive club slamming into the ground as he let out a deafening roar. The horde surged forward, closing the distance rapidly. Orrian drew his sword, its enchanted blade glowing faintly in the dim light. He turned to the others, his voice firm. “Hold the line! We protect this camp with everything we’ve got! No one gets through—no matter what!” The elves braced themselves as the first wave of goblins slammed into the magical barrier. Sparks flew as the barrier held, but the horde didn’t relent. Dry Bones clawed at the glowing runes, their skeletal hands emitting a horrifying screech as they tried to break through. The champion goblin raised his massive club, preparing to strike the barrier with all his might. “NOW, ALICIA!” Orrian shouted. Alicia released her arrow, the enchanted projectile whistling through the air before striking one of the Dry Bones in the chest. The skeleton exploded into a cloud of ash, but another immediately took its place. “There’s too many of them!” she called down. “We can’t hold them off forever!” The goblin champion roared again, his club crashing down onto the barrier. The magical runes flickered, the shield trembling under the sheer force of the impact. Khilseith gritted his teeth, his hands glowing brighter as he poured more energy into the barrier. “I can’t hold this much longer!” he yelled, sweat dripping down his face. “If that champion keeps hitting it, it’s going to collapse!” Orrian’s mind raced as he tried to think of a way to turn the tide. “Alicia, keep targeting the Dry Bones! We need to thin their numbers! Everyone else, prepare for the breach!” Vanellope watched in terror as the barrier began to weaken. Her heart pounded in her chest as she clutched the charm tightly. “I can’t just sit here…” she whispered to herself. Taking a deep breath, she stood and darted toward the group, her small form moving through the chaos. “Hey, what can I do to help?” she called out, her voice trembling but determined. Orrian glanced at her, his expression a mix of surprise and urgency. “Get to cover and stay safe! This isn’t your fight!” Vanellope’s eyes narrowed, her small fists clenched. “No way! If you’re fighting, then so am I! Just tell me what to do!” Before Orrian could respond, the barrier gave a final, desperate flicker before shattering with a deafening crack. The goblin champion let out a triumphant roar as the horde surged forward, charging straight for the camp. “Here they come!” Orrian shouted, raising his sword. “DEFEND THE CAMP!” And with that, the battle began. . The moment the barrier shattered, the camp was plunged into chaos. The goblin horde surged forward, their guttural war cries shaking the ground beneath their feet. The sound of clattering bones from the Dry Bones added a haunting undertone to the cacophony. At the forefront, the goblin champion bellowed his war cry, his massive club swinging in anticipation of crushing anything in his path. Orrian stood firm, his glowing blade raised high. “Hold the line!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the din. The elves braced themselves, their weapons gleaming in the dim light of the campfires. The first wave of goblins rushed into the camp, their crude weapons gleaming wickedly. Alicia fired arrow after arrow from her perch, each enchanted shot finding its mark. Dry Bones exploded into clouds of dust, and goblins dropped lifelessly to the ground, their bodies pierced by glowing projectiles. “Focus on the Dry Bones! They’ll get back up if we don’t destroy them completely!” she shouted, her voice steady despite the chaos. Ruven and Orrian took the front line, their blades flashing as they met the goblins head-on. Orrian’s sword cut through the first goblin with ease, its enchanted edge slicing cleanly through the creature’s crude armor. The goblin’s blood sprayed out like a fire hose. Ruven spun, his twin blades moving with precision as he carved a path through the enemy ranks. pieces of goblin body sprayed the battlefield. “Push them back! Don’t let them overwhelm us!” Ruven barked, his calm demeanor now replaced with fiery determination. Bellas and Jacob stood slightly behind the front line, providing cover and support. Bellas’s hands trembled as she notched an arrow, but she steadied herself with a deep breath and let it fly. The arrow struck a goblin square in the chest, sending it sprawling to the ground in pain. Jacob, his face pale but resolute, hurled daggers with surprising accuracy, taking down goblins before they could get close. Meanwhile, Khilseith stood in the center of the camp, his hands glowing with raw magical energy. He muttered an incantation under his breath, and a burst of light erupted from the ground, sending a cluster of goblins flying. “I’m buying us time, but don’t expect miracles!” he shouted, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Vanellope, small and quick, darted between the chaos, trying to find a way to help without putting herself directly in harm’s way. Her eyes darted to the goblin champion, who was now stomping through the battlefield with terrifying force. His massive club slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves that knocked both elves and goblins off their feet. The champion locked eyes with Orrian, a cruel grin spreading across his grotesque face. “Elven scum!” he bellowed, swinging his club down with earth-shaking force. Orrian dodged at the last second, the ground where he had been standing exploding into splinters and dirt. Orrian shouted over the clamor of the battlefield, “Keep it distracted! Don’t let it breach the center of the camp!” Ruven, always quick on his feet, dashed toward the goblin champion, his twin blades flashing in the dim light. “Over here, you overgrown brute!” he taunted, slicing at the champion’s exposed leg. His attack left a shallow slightly bloody cut, drawing the beast’s attention. The champion roared, swinging its massive club toward Ruven, who rolled out of the way just in time. Alicia took advantage of the distraction, leaping onto a makeshift platform to get a clear shot. She loosed a series of enchanted arrows, each one glowing with a faint blue light. The arrows struck the champion’s armor, causing small bursts of magic to ripple across its body. The beast grunted in annoyance, but the attacks only seemed to enrage it further. “Is that the best you’ve got?” the champion sneered, slamming his club into the ground and sending another shockwave rippling through the camp. Several elves stumbled, but Orrian steadied himself and charged forward. “Focus your fire on the joints!” Orrian commanded. “Slow it down!” Khilseith, still in the center of the camp, raised his hands and began chanting a spell. “Alicia, keep it occupied! I’m working on something big!” Magic crackled around him, forming a glowing sigil beneath his feet. “Just buy me a few more seconds!” Vanellope, crouched behind a pile of crates, watched the battle unfold with wide eyes. Her heart raced as she saw the champion smashing through everything in its path. She clenched her fists, feeling a mix of fear and determination. “Okay, think, Vanellope. You’ve got glitches. Use them.” Summoning her courage, she darted out from her hiding spot and sprinted toward the chaos. She weaved through the fighting, her small size making it easy to avoid notice. As the champion raised its club again, Vanellope glitched forward, reappearing directly behind the beast. “Hey, big guy! Bet you can’t catch me!” she shouted, sticking her tongue out. The champion turned, confused by her sudden appearance. With a furious roar, it swung its club toward her, but she glitched again, disappearing just before the massive weapon could connect. She reappeared several feet away, grinning mischievously. “That’s right, keep looking at me!” she called out, giving the elves a chance to regroup. Ruven took the opportunity to land another blow on the champion’s leg, this time deeper, causing it to stagger. “Nice distraction, kid!” he shouted, giving her a quick thumbs-up before diving back into the fray. Meanwhile, Khilseith’s spell reached its climax. “Everyone, get clear!” he yelled, his voice echoing with magical energy. A massive burst of light erupted from his hands, forming into a spear of pure energy. With a final shout, he hurled the spear toward the champion. The magical spear struck the champion square in the chest, exploding in a brilliant flash of light. The beast roared in pain, stumbling backward as its armor cracked and splintered. It dropped its club, falling to one knee. “Now’s our chance!” Orrian yelled, charging forward with his sword raised. The elves surged alongside him, their weapons aimed at the vulnerable champion. The battle raged on, the elves pressing their advantage while the rest of the goblin horde seemed momentarily disoriented by their champion’s fall. And see how much more confident he is the movement. They’re unsure brother to follow. They’re trying to follow him. I mean, of course he has little to no intelligence. The ground quaked as more enemies poured into the camp. From the shadows beyond the outer perimeter, an unending tide of goblins and Dry Bones swarmed forth, their guttural cries and clattering bones filling the air. It quickly became apparent that the initial wave was only a fraction of the true force. The elves’ expressions darkened as they realized the overwhelming numbers. Orrian glanced back at the others, his jaw tight. “They’ve been holding back on us. This was a trap to draw us out!” Ruven, slashing through another goblin, growled, “What’s the play now, Orrian? We can’t hold this many off forever!” Khilseith, still breathing heavily from his previous spell, grimaced. “I can’t keep casting at this pace. We’re going to run dry if we don’t come up with something fast.” Alicia loosed another arrow, striking down two goblins at once, but even she looked pale as she glanced at the overwhelming enemy numbers. “They’re cutting off our retreat! We’re surrounded!” The goblin champion, still staggering from the magical spear, let out a guttural laugh as it pushed itself back to its feet. “You thought that would stop us? Pathetic!” It reached for a massive horn strapped to its side and blew into it. The deafening sound echoed through the camp, signaling another wave of reinforcements. Moments later, larger, armored goblins began appearing, their jagged weapons gleaming in the firelight. Vanellope, still hiding behind a stack of crates, clutched her charm tightly. Her earlier surge of hope was rapidly fading. “Oh no, oh no… this is bad. This is really, really bad,” she muttered, her voice trembling. She glanced back toward the tent where Zoro was still fast asleep. “Wake up, you idiot!” she hissed under her breath, but she knew it was useless. From what her knowledge of him was that once Zoro was asleep, it was pretty much impossible to wake him up unless it was a catastrophic event happening in front of him. Which, considering the situation they were in would be enough to get him up and off his ass. Orrian raised his sword, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Fall back to the inner perimeter! Protect the heart of the camp! Jacob, Bellas—get to the wounded and start evacuating them! Alicia, Ruven—cover their retreat!” The elves moved like a well-oiled machine, but the sheer number of enemies quickly pushed them to their limits. The goblins and Dry Bones surged forward relentlessly, their numbers seeming endless. Despite the elves’ coordinated efforts, the defensive lines began to buckle under the weight of the assault. The enemy was tearing through everything in camp as a it was made of papier-mâché. First, they were hanging up their weapon supply and arming themselves with even more weapons. While tearing apart any magical items that can harm them. However, that part of the plant quickly began to Foil itself, as since these magical items were well magically enchanted it left a certain protection spell that would cause severe burns towards the goblins and crossbones if they touched long enough. They were also trying to surround the entire camp so that there was no place any of the elves or humans could go or escape if their base was taken over. Jacob and Bellas darted between the chaos, helping the wounded elves to safety. Bellas shouted over the din of battle, “We’ve got to move faster! The inner perimeter won’t hold for long!” “I know, I know!” Jacob replied, his voice cracking with panic as he helped an injured elf limp toward the inner camp. “But we’re running out of time!” Alicia and Ruven fired off arrows and swung their weapons with precision, but even they were starting to falter under the endless tide of enemies. Alicia gritted her teeth as she loosed another arrow, her hand trembling from exhaustion. “They just keep coming! We’re going to need a miracle at this rate!” Ruven snarled as he sliced through another Dry Bones, the creature shattering into pieces before slowly beginning to reassemble itself. “These damned things won’t stay down! Khilseith, can you do something about them?” Khilseith, his face drenched in sweat, waved his staff and unleashed another burst of magic, incinerating a cluster of Dry Bones. “Do you think I have a limitless supply of magic?!” he snapped, his voice sharp with frustration. “I’m running on fumes here!” Orrian barked orders from the center of the camp, his sword slashing through goblins as he tried to keep the others coordinated. “Hold the line! We have to buy time for the evacuees! Don’t let them breach the heart of the camp!” The goblin champion roared, its massive, grotesque form pushing through the chaos like a living battering ram. “Elves! You will die here!” it bellowed, swinging its enormous club and scattering several defenders with a single blow. The ground shook with every step it took, its beady eyes glowing with malice as it locked onto Orrian. Orrian turned to face the champion, his grip tightening on his blade. “Everyone, focus fire on the big one! Bring it down before it tears us apart!” Vanellope, still hidden, watched the chaos unfold with wide eyes. Her heart pounded as she saw the elves struggling to hold their ground. She clutched her charm tightly, her mind racing. I have to do something. I can’t just sit here while they’re all fighting… but what can I do? Her gaze darted back toward Zoro’s tent, and she felt a surge of frustration. “You’d better be worth it, big guy,” she muttered. Then, taking a deep breath, she began to creep toward the inner camp, looking for anything—anything—that might help turn the tide. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her, and she froze. A goblin had spotted her, its jagged teeth bared in a wicked grin. “Little morsel!” it hissed, raising its crude weapon to strike. Vanellope’s instincts kicked in. With a burst of adrenaline, she glitched just as the goblin’s weapon came down, disappearing in a flash of static and reappearing several feet away. The goblin stumbled, confused, giving her a brief moment to think. “Okay, okay,” she whispered to herself, her hands shaking. “I can do this. Just like the arcade. Think fast, Vanellope.” The goblin turned, snarling as it lunged at her again. This time, she glitched directly behind it and kicked its legs out from under it. The creature toppled forward with a surprised yelp, crashing into a pile of debris. Vanellope didn’t stick around to see what happened next. She darted deeper into the camp, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched for something—anything—to help the elves. Meanwhile, the goblin champion let out a guttural laugh as it swung its club at Orrian, the massive weapon colliding with the elf leader’s sword. The force of the blow sent Orrian skidding backward, his boots digging into the dirt as he struggled to stay upright. “You’ll fall just like the rest!” the champion roared, raising its club for another strike. Orrian gritted his teeth, his arms straining under the weight of the fight. “Not today,” he growled, lunging forward and slashing at the champion’s side. His blade bit deep, drawing a spray of dark, viscous blood, but the champion barely flinched. It didn’t help that he was a towering monstrosity, far larger than any of the other goblins, and it moved with a speed and precision that belied its hulking frame. Its muscles bulged under its crude, spiked armor, and its jagged club seemed to glow faintly with a malevolent energy. Every swing of its weapon sent shockwaves through the ground, knocking elves off their feet and shattering anything unfortunate enough to stand in its way. Orrian and Ruven fought side by side, their movements coordinated and deliberate, but even their combined efforts barely made a dent. The champion deflected Ruven’s strikes with ease, its club colliding with his sword in a resounding clang that sent sparks flying. “Is this the best you’ve got, elves?!” the champion roared, its guttural voice echoing across the battlefield. It swung its club in a wide arc, forcing both Orrian and Ruven to leap back or be pulverized. The attack obliterated a nearby barricade, sending splinters flying in all directions. “I can’t get a clear strike!” Ruven shouted, his voice strained as he dodged another attack. “Its armor is too thick, and it’s moving too fast!” Orrian’s face was grim, his breaths labored. “We need to distract it! If we can get it to expose its flank, we might have a chance!” Alicia, perched on a nearby vantage point, loosed arrow after arrow at the champion. Each shot was aimed with precision, targeting the gaps in its armor, but the creature swatted her projectiles away like they were flies. “It’s like shooting at a damn mountain!” she muttered, her frustration mounting. “We can’t keep this up forever!” Khilseith, his hands glowing with arcane energy, unleashed a powerful blast of fire at the champion. The spell struck the creature square in the chest, momentarily engulfing it in flames. But when the smoke cleared, the champion stood unharmed, its armor blackened but otherwise intact. “Is that all you’ve got?!” the champion sneered, its grotesque face twisted into a mocking grin. It stomped toward Khilseith, each step shaking the ground. “Pathetic little mage. You’ll die first.” Khilseith stumbled back, sweat pouring down his face. “What is this thing made of?!” he hissed, his voice shaking. “That should’ve at least slowed it down!” “It’s enchanted,” Orrian called out, his eyes narrowing as he studied the champion. “That armor—it’s absorbing most of the damage. We need to focus on unprotected areas!” The champion laughed, a deep, guttural sound that sent chills through the air. “You think you can find a weakness? You’re welcome to try.” As if to prove its dominance, the champion swung its club again, this time slamming it into the ground with such force that the shockwave sent several elves flying. Bellas screamed as she was thrown backward, landing hard on the ground and clutching her arm. “Bellas!” Jacob yelled, scrambling to her side. He helped her up, his face pale with fear as he glanced at the champion. “We… we can’t fight that thing. It’s unstoppable!” Bellas winced, her face pale but determined. “We don’t have a choice. We have to hold the line, no matter what.” Vanellope, hiding behind a stack of supplies, watched the scene with wide eyes. The champion was like a force of nature, an unstoppable juggernaut that the elves couldn’t seem to touch. Her small hands clenched into fists as she struggled to think of a way to help. “C’mon, think, think,” she whispered to herself, her heart racing. “There’s gotta be something…” Suddenly, the champion spotted her. Its glowing eyes locked onto her small form, and its grin widened into a predatory sneer. “What’s this? A little runt playing hide-and-seek? How cute.” Vanellope froze as the champion began stomping toward her, its massive club resting on its shoulder. The ground shook with every step it took, and its malevolent laughter echoed in her ears. “No, no, no,” she whispered, her mind racing. She clutched the charm Alicia had given her, feeling its rough surface against her palm. “Not now. Not like this.” Before the champion could reach her, Alicia loosed another arrow, this one striking the creature in the back of its knee. The champion snarled in pain, momentarily distracted. “Vanellope, run!” Alicia shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. Vanellope didn’t need to be told twice. She glitched away, reappearing several feet closer to the inner camp. Her heart pounded as she darted behind another stack of supplies, her mind racing. I can’t keep running. I have to do something! But what can I do against that thing?! The elves continued their desperate battle, but it was clear they were losing ground. The champion’s presence alone was demoralizing, and the relentless tide of goblins and Dry Bones only added to their struggle. Orrian gritted his teeth, his sword flashing as he cut through another wave of enemies. “We need to take that thing down, or we won’t last much longer!” But how? The champion was more than a match for all of them combined. Unless something changed, their chances of survival were slipping away with every passing moment. The swarms of goblins and Dry Bones poured into the camp like a flood, overwhelming the elves who struggled to hold their positions. The air was thick with the cacophony of battle: the clang of steel, the crackling of Khilseith’s magic, the guttural roars of goblins, and the eerie clattering of Dry Bones as their skeletal forms moved with unnatural precision. Alicia fired arrow after arrow, her quiver quickly depleting as she tried to thin the ranks of the incoming horde. “There’s too many of them!” she shouted, her voice rising over the chaos. She pivoted, shooting a goblin who had managed to climb onto one of the camp’s barricades, sending it tumbling to the ground with a sickening crunch. Ruven slashed through a line of goblins, his blade glowing faintly with elven magic. “We can’t hold this position forever!” he called out, panting as he drove another Dry Bones back with a well-timed kick. But even as the skeleton staggered, it began to reassemble itself, its bones snapping back into place as if pulled by invisible strings. “These damn things don’t stay down!” Jacob, who had taken a position on a makeshift watchtower, hurled a dagger into the fray below, striking a goblin in the eye. “They just keep coming!” he yelled, his hands trembling as he fumbled for another weapon. His usual bravado was replaced with sheer terror as the camp descended further into chaos. Bellas struggled to keep her balance as she swung her blade at a goblin charging her. Despite her earlier injury, she fought valiantly, but the sheer number of enemies forced her to retreat step by step. “We’re being overrun!” she cried out, her voice cracking. Meanwhile, the goblin champion was a storm of destruction, its massive club smashing through everything in its path. Tents were torn apart, barricades were shattered, and the ground itself seemed to quake under its fury. Every swing of its weapon sent elves flying, their cries of pain echoing through the camp. “Hold the line!” Orrian commanded, his voice steady despite the overwhelming odds. His sword flashed as he cut down another goblin, but even he couldn’t hide the strain in his movements. “We can’t let them reach the inner camp!” But it was clear the elves were losing ground. For every goblin or Dry Bones they took down, two more seemed to take its place. The horde was relentless, their grotesque faces twisted with glee as they swarmed the camp. Khilseith, positioned near the central tent, unleashed another blast of fire, incinerating a cluster of goblins. But the strain was evident on his face, beads of sweat rolling down his temples as his magic reserves began to dwindle. Khilseith gritted his teeth, his voice strained as he called out, “I can’t keep this up forever! We’re running out of time!” His hands crackled with energy, but the glow of his magic was dimming. With every spell cast, his movements grew slower, his breathing heavier. Alicia glanced over her shoulder, her heart sinking at the sight of their once-organized camp now teeming with goblins and Dry Bones. The champion goblin roared, swinging its club with brutal efficiency, sending debris and elves flying. Her arrows seemed to bounce off its thick hide, and she cursed under her breath. “Orrian, we need a new plan!” she shouted, taking out another goblin with a precise shot. Orrian was already in motion, slashing through a group of Dry Bones with calculated precision. “Pull back to the inner circle!” he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Regroup around the central tree! We make our stand there!” “But what about the tents and supplies?” Ruven protested as he fended off a goblin trying to climb onto the barricades. “They’re already lost!” Orrian barked. “If we stay spread out, we’re dead! Fall back now!” The elves hesitated for a moment, their gazes flickering between the advancing horde and Orrian’s determined face. Then, one by one, they began to retreat, covering each other as they moved toward the central tree where their defensive line was stronger. Jacob climbed down from the watchtower in a hurry, his steps frantic. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this!” he muttered as he narrowly avoided a goblin’s blade. That’s when the goblin champion noticed they were retreat and began to shout towards his subordinate,” BEAR WITNESS MY BRETHREN, THE ENEMY HAD BEGUN TO RETREAT! THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO END THIS THING ONCE AND FOR ALL! DO WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY TO SEPARATE THEM! ONCE YOUVE DONE THAT…………TEAR THEM APART”!!!! He then advanced forward the army following after him doing exactly as he said. Begin advancing upon the elves, overwhelming them with their sheer and overwhelming number of forces causing them to break up. Bellas limped toward the tree, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tightly clutches her freshly injured leg. She gripped her sword tightly, her knuckles white. “We can’t let them break through,” she murmured, her eyes flickering with determination despite the fear etched across her face. As the elves desperately do whatever they can to regroup, the central tree loomed above them like a protective sentinel. Its massive roots and branches provided some cover, Alicia scrambled to take up new positions, her hands trembling as she nocked another arrow. The goblin horde surged forward, relentless in their attack. The champion goblin led the charge, its monstrous roars echoing through the night as it barreled toward the elves’ new defensive line. It swung its club with terrifying force, smashing into the barricades and sending splinters flying. “We can’t stop that thing!” Jacob cried, his voice rising in panic as he sticks his daggers upon the champion only for it to result in little damage. Orrian stepped forward, his sword glowing faintly with an enchantment as he faced the goblin champion. “We don’t have to stop it,” he said grimly. “We just need to hold long enough to force a retreat.” Khilseith, his magic nearly depleted, staggered toward Orrian. “Force a retreat? How the hell are we supposed to do that when they have the advantage in numbers and strength?” Khilseith growled, his frustration boiling over. “We’re barely holding them back as it is!” Orrian turned to face the exhausted mage, his expression resolute. “Because we don’t have a choice. If we fall here, the rebellion loses its foothold in the Dark Lands. We hold this position, no matter what it takes.” He glanced back at the central tree, its branches reaching skyward like a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. “We’ve fought worse odds before.” Khilseith scoffed but didn’t argue further. He turned his focus back to the battle, summoning a weak but steady burst of energy to repel a cluster of advancing Dry Bones. “If we make it out of this alive, Orrian, you owe me a drink. A big one.” Orrian chuckles as he’s raised himself for another attack,” I’ll hold you to that my friend”. Alicia, perched in one of the higher branches of the tree, let loose a volley of arrows, each one finding its mark. “We can’t let them breach the inner circle!” she shouted, her voice carrying over the din of battle. “I’ll focus fire on the Dry Bones! You Guys take them down before they can reform!”, she then took another shot, arrows slicing through the air with deadly precision. The Dry Bones, though relentless, began to falter under the concentrated assault. Their skeletal forms crumbled, but the elves knew it was only a matter of time before they started reassembling. Meanwhile, the goblin champion continued its rampage, carving a path of destruction through the elves’ ranks. Its massive club struck with the force of a battering ram, and even Orrian’s enchanted sword seemed to struggle against the brute’s raw power. Ruven darted forward, his twin daggers flashing as he attempted to flank the champion. He managed to land a series of quick strikes, but they barely left a scratch on the creature’s thick hide. “This thing’s tougher than it looks!” he called out, dodging a wild swing of the champion’s club. “I noticed!” Orrian replied through gritted teeth, parrying a blow that sent him skidding backward. He glanced over his shoulder at Alicia. “We need to bring it down now, before it breaks through the defenses!” Alicia hesitated, her bowstring taut as she lined up a shot. “I don’t have anything that can pierce its armor! We need—” Before she could finish, a guttural roar erupted from the champion goblin as it charged forward, smashing through another barricade. The elves scrambled to regroup, their formation breaking under the relentless assault. Vanellope, still hiding in the shadows near the tree, watched in wide-eyed terror. Her small hands clutched the charm Alicia had given her, the faint glow of the elven rune providing little comfort. She wanted to help, to do something, but she felt completely powerless in the face of such overwhelming odds. As the goblins and Dry Bones pressed closer, the elves’ situation grew increasingly dire. Bellas stumbled, barely managing to parry a goblin’s strike, while Jacob frantically fumbled with a bow he clearly wasn’t used to wielding. “We can’t hold them!” Jacob shouted, his voice cracking with fear. “They’re going to—” A deafening crash interrupted him as the goblin champion struck the base of the central tree with its club, sending shockwaves through the ground. The tree groaned under the impact, its roots splintering as debris rained down around the elves. Orrian’s eyes widened in alarm. “If they bring the tree down, we’re done for!” he yelled. “Focus everything on the champion! Take it out, now!” The elves rallied, pouring their remaining strength into a desperate counterattack. Arrows flew, spells crackled, and blades clashed against the champion’s thick armor. But the goblin leader seemed almost unstoppable, its roars of rage shaking the air as it swung its club with reckless abandon. Noticing that they were only focusing on him to their futility, the goblin champion decided to use this to his advantage,” WHILE THEY’RE DISTRACTED, ATTACK THEM…….NOW”! The goblins and dry bones did just as they were told using the distractions as a means of suddenly swarming and overpowering the elves. Weaker elves like Jacob and Bella began to be overwhelmed by the forces, practically being tackled and shoved to the ground. Jacob tried his best to use his daggers to get them off of him, but there are too many to push off and kill. It didn’t help that some of the elves that were helping with the tackle were sharpening their weapons as to administer the final blow. Bella tried to reach over and help him, but there wasn’t much she could do while they were holding her down as well and she couldn’t exactly fight back unlike him. The others would’ve gone over to help them if they weren’t busy with the champion and the other enemy forces. And Alicia couldn’t leave her current position because she was currently range attacking and trying to best to keep the enemy from swarming the entire camp. Scientist. In the chaos, Vanellope’s gaze darted between the champion and the crumbling defenses. Her heart pounded as she realized that the elves might not make it out of this alive. She clenched her fists, her mind racing. “I have to do something,” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. “I can’t just sit here and watch.” Summoning every ounce of courage she had, Vanellope stepped out from her hiding spot, her small frame dwarfed by the chaos around her. She didn’t have a plan—just a determination not to let these people, who had taken her in and tried to protect her, face this battle alone. Taking a deep breath, she focused on her glitching ability, her body flickering with bursts of energy. “Hey, ugly!” she shouted, her voice surprisingly loud for her size. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?!” The goblin champion turned its massive head toward her, its glowing eyes narrowing as it registered the tiny figure standing defiantly before it. A guttural growl rumbled from its throat,”oh you little shit”, and it began to lumber toward her, its club raised high. Vanellope’s heart raced, but she held her ground, her fingers twitching as she prepared to glitch. “Come on,” she muttered under her breath. “Let’s see if you can keep up.” And with that, she darted forward, disappearing in a burst of static as the champion swung its club down with a thunderous crash, missing her by inches. The elves, momentarily stunned by her sudden appearance, quickly realized what she was doing. “She’s distracting it!” Alicia called out, her voice tinged with both surprise and urgency. “Don’t let her efforts go to waste! Focus all fire on the champion while it’s distracted!” With renewed determination, the elves launched a coordinated assault, their attacks converging on the champion as Vanellope darted and glitched around it, drawing its attention away from the others. Unfortunately, as she was distracting it, Vanellope noticed one thing……… …………….Some of the goblins we’re heading towards her and Zoro’s tent……………….. Vanellope’s breath hitched as she spotted the goblins breaking away from the main battle, their grotesque forms skittering toward the tent she and Zoro had been resting in. Her stomach twisted in panic. “Oh no,” she whispered, frozen for a moment as fear took hold of her. Zoro’s still asleep in there. She glanced around desperately, hoping someone might have noticed, but the elves were too preoccupied fighting the relentless waves of goblins and Dry Bones. Arrows flew, blades clashed, and spells illuminated the battlefield, but none of them could afford to abandon their positions to help. She then started flaring around desperately, screaming to the top of her lungs for them to go and help her friend,”Guys guys guys guys Zoro they’re going up to Zoro’s tent. You have to help him please”! Alicia, perched high above, spotted the same group heading for the tent and cursed under her breath. “They’re making a move for the humans!” she yelled, loosing an arrow toward one of the goblins. It found its mark, but there were too many for her to take out from her position. And even if there weren’t, she still wasn’t able to leave her position. And, unfortunately, everyone else was preoccupied Jacob and Bellas were still at the mercy of the goblins and we’re too busy trying to fight them off. Ruben was doing everything he could to get to them though there was no telling if he was gonna be able to get to them in time with the sheer number of goblins and dry bones. Much less head over to help out some new human they just met that day. And Orrian and Khilseith we’re still trying to handle the main force of the enemy, as well as taking on the goblin champion. Vanellope’s heart raced as she looked back and forth between the goblins and the tent. Her glitching wasn’t strong enough to take on so many enemies, and she didn’t have a weapon. “ZORO! You have to wake up!!!,” she shouted as loud as she could, her voice cracking. But the tent remained still, and the goblins grew closer, their guttural growls and wicked laughter sending chills down her spine. And then, just as the first goblin reached the tent and tore open the flap, something unexpected happened. Inside the tent, Zoro’s peaceful slumber had remained uninterrupted, even as the battle raged outside. His swords leaned neatly against the wall of the tent, untouched. But as the goblin entered and quickly glanced around the inside of the type of before spotting the sleeping swordsman snoring loudly as a snot bubble was rising and lowering out of his left nose hole. Seeing an opportunity to strike him while he was as weak as the goblin began raising its crude weapon to strike the sleeping swordsman, Zoro’s hand moved instinctively. In a single fluid motion, Zoro reached for one of his swords, unsheathed it, and slashed upward. The goblin froze mid-strike, its beady eyes wide with shock before it crumpled to the ground in two clean go bloody green halves. Zoro cracked one eye open lazily, his expression unreadable as he sat up. “Tch… noisy neighbors,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His gaze flicked to the tent opening, where several more goblins were pushing their way inside. He grabbed another sword, slipping it between his teeth, and rose to his feet, his presence suddenly radiating menace. The goblins hesitated, clearly unsure whether to proceed. “I was having a good nap,” Zoro growled, his voice muffled by the sword in his mouth. “And now… I’ve got to deal with you idiots.” Outside, Vanellope stood frozen in place, expecting to hear the worst. Instead, she heard a series of loud crashes, followed by goblin screams that were abruptly cut short. “What the—” Alicia said, glancing toward the tent in confusion. Ruven, dodging a swing from a goblin blade, shouted, “What’s going on over there?!” Before anyone could answer, the tent flap was ripped open—and Zoro stepped out, his three swords gleaming and his eyes sharp with irritation. Behind him, the bodies of the goblins that had entered lay scattered in various states of clean but gory dismemberment. Zoro tilted his head, cracking his neck. “So much for a peaceful night,” he muttered. His gaze shifted to the battlefield, taking in the chaos. He spotted Vanellope standing frozen near the central tree and raised an eyebrow. “Hey, kid! What’d I miss?” Vanellope blinked in disbelief before breaking into a wide grin. “Zoro!” she shouted, her relief palpable. Zoro stepped forward, his swords glinting in the firelight as he assessed the battlefield. Everyone else’s eyes darted towards the human swordsman. They were all kind of surprised to see him out there Wait, was he sleeping through all of that chaos that was going on? Alicia, still perched above, let out a shaky laugh. “Looks like the reinforcements woke up,” she said, her voice tinged with awe. Zoro then yawn loudly,” So someone wanna explain to me what the hell is going on”? Jacob handled that as he then quickly yelled to Zoro from his position, finally getting out from under all of the goblins and dry bones on top of him thanks for the help of Ruben, who was helping him up,” Were under attack by enemy forces. We’re trying to hold off the enemy forces as best we can! You take the little girl and go hide somewhere?! We’ll handle this!” Zoro raised an eyebrow at Jacob’s words, tilting his head slightly as though he hadn’t heard him correctly. “Hide?” he repeated, his tone laced with incredulity. He stepped forward, his swords glinting ominously in the firelight. “You want me to hide?” Vanellope, still standing near the central tree, stifled a laugh at Zoro’s offended tone. She knew well enough by now that “hiding” wasn’t exactly in his vocabulary. Jacob, still brushing dust off his cloak and scrambling to stay upright, blinked at Zoro. “Yes! Hide! You’re outnumbered—there are goblins, Dry Bones, and a massive goblin champion out there! This isn’t the time to play hero! You can’t possibly be able to handle the sheer number of them you’re a human!” Zoro let out a short, sharp laugh, one that sent a chill down the spines of everyone around him. His grip tightened on his swords, and he rolled his shoulders lazily. “Play hero? Nah,” he said, his voice dropping into a dangerous growl. “I don’t play hero. I just don’t run from a fight.” Alicia, still firing arrows from her perch, couldn’t help but smirk at his response. “Looks like he’s got some spirit,” she muttered under her breath. The goblin champion, standing tall at the forefront of the attacking forces, noticed Zoro’s entrance and let out a guttural roar. Its jagged, bone-like armor gleamed under the fiery sky, and it raised its massive club high, pointing it directly at Zoro as if issuing a challenge. The goblin champion knew that this was the human, but he was told to bring his superior and he was going to do just that. Though, that didn’t mean he couldn’t have fun with him at least. A couple bruises and a broken bone or two wasn’t going to weaken him too much. Zorro knew that this big guy was challenging him and he was glad this guy saved him in trouble. Vanellope, still rooted to her spot, couldn’t help but noticed this exchange and shout, “Zoro, are you sure about this?! That thing’s huge!” He glanced back at her, his grin softening slightly. “Kid, if I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t be here”, he’s in readjust his swords as he then says,” And besides our relish, just kind of challenge”. Jacob, still wide-eyed, called out again, “You’re insane! You can’t possibly take all of them on by yourself!” Zoro didn’t even look at him this time. He simply adjusted the sword in his mouth and said, through gritted teeth, “Watch me.” Without another word, Zoro began walking toward the goblin forces, his pace calm and unhurried, as though he wasn’t heading straight into the jaws of chaos. The goblins, emboldened by their numbers, surged forward to meet him, their shrieks and war cries filling the air. And then, Zoro moved. The first wave of goblins didn’t even see the attack coming. In a blur of motion, Zoro swung his swords in a deadly arc, cutting through them with surgical precision. Blood sprayed the battlefield, and the goblins fell like leaves in a storm, their bodies crumpling to the ground before they even realized what had hit them. The elves, who had been struggling to hold the line, paused briefly in stunned silence. Ruven, still fending off a group of Dry Bones, let out a low whistle. “Well… I stand corrected.” Alicia, firing another arrow into a goblin’s eye, couldn’t help but grin. “Guess the human’s got more than just a sharp tongue.” Vanellope, watching from her vantage point, clutched the charm Alicia had given her earlier and whispered, “Go, Zoro…” And with that, he charged into the fray, his swords slicing through goblins and Dry Bones with effortless precision. He was moving so fast and that one of them couldn’t even pick up his movements as he was cutting through them like effortless butter. They had never seen anyone and they mean anyone fight with such quick accurate precision in their lives. Despite being outnumbered, Zoro moved like a force of nature, his movements fluid and deliberate. The champion goblin roared in fury as it noticed him, but Zoro didn’t flinch. If anything, he smirked. before the champion even knew it was right in front of him, looking right up at him, casually with his one eye, “Finally,” Zoro said, his voice low and dangerous as he then cracked his neck and pulled out the Wado Ichimonji. “Someone worth my time.” (End of chapter)